The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-03-21

Dakota Temperance Convention.

Eight hundred delegates were present be
side q hundred or more visitors Many of
the most noted persons in the state, of the
bar, the pulpit, the press, and in politics,
we're present. Ofall that has been said or
done, the letter nt Gov. LaFrabee al Iowa
created the most enthusiasm, at the Ten
perance convention at Huron, Dakota. 1t
is as follows:
Des Moines, Feb. 2S.-To Rev. William
Fielder, Aberdeen, Oak: Your communica-
tion of recent datei is at hand and noted. In
reply, desire to say that The prohibitory
law in Iowa has much more than ans wered
the best eXpecta tiOns of its foremost, hope
ful advocates. AS regards the asseveration
that prohibition has driven people out of
the state, ! think that not q person has
left the state on account of prohibition
whom it is desirable to have reurn. Many
of those engaged in the saloon and
liquor business, and such persons as are
usually attracted by these interests, have
left, and the state is largely the gamer there
by. The cheap lands of the states and terri
tories west of us have induced a great many
Pnterprising and valuable citizens to emi-
CRATE, independent of any influence of pro-
hibitiOn. There has been steady growth
in our population and census of 1890 will
prQhably show in Iowa at least 1900, 900
! Inhabitants. TIE vote at the last election
shows an increase of Ga, ,329 votes oyer the
presidential election Off SS4 a larger increase
than the election of 1885 over that
of 1880. AS to the depreciation of the
value of real estate occasioned by prohibi-
tion, it is the sheerest nonsense. Values
have, believe, been sustained in Iowa as
well as in adjoining states where prohibition
is NOT the rule. The same causes that have
affected values elsewhere have undoubtedly
had their effect here. Crops grow, herds null
tiply and the markets of the world continue
open TO us the same as before, and why
should business suffer? Money is now spent
Tor the neCessaries of life and for legitimate
use instead ofbeing spent at the saloons. The
banking business ofa state is perhaps nsfair
barometer of business ascan he found, The
number of banks in the state hAs increased
from 1876 in 1883 to 244 i'm 1883. Deposits
have increased from $27 ,331, 1874 to $39,-
935 1862. 90 in 1888. think more than halt
Oi the iails in the state are entirely empty at
the present time. There are ninety eight less
convicts in our penitentiaries than there were
three years ago, IL, twithstanding the growth
of the population. Expenses in criminal
courts have decreased very largely during the
last few years, I send you with this a
copy of collection of letters from the
district judges of our state, which will
show you that the testimony IS overwhelm-
ingly in favor of the law. More recent state
ments from them would no doubt show still
more favorable results. Tramps are very
scarce in Iowa. There are evidently very
few attractions for them here. Probably
more than 5000 of their recruiting stations
have been closed in Iowa during the last FIVE
years. The wives and mothers of the state
and especially those of small means, are al
most unanimously in favor of the law. The
families of laboring men now receive the ben
efts of the earnings that formerly went to
the saloons. There is no question in my
mind but what the law is doing good work
for the people. My views heretofore ad-
vanced in favor of the law are strengthened
and confirmed by added experience. Our
people are. more determined than ever to
make no compromise with the saloons. The
law has more friends in the state than it
ever had before and am satisfied that no
state can show results more gratifying.
| 49, r. WILLIAM LARRABEE.
This expression of the sense of the conven-
ton was unanimously endorsed.
This being q non-partisan convention, and
with desire to unity oil our forces on Civ
en- line Of action, We studiously avoid all
polt ical lines and party distinctions in view
of the great end to be accomplished. South
Dakota golden opportunity is here toenter
| the constellation of states as q star of the
| first magnitude, free from theinfamous stain
of the alcoholic liquor traffic. The motto
for the campaign shall be, by the grace
ofGod, constitutional prohibition for South
Dakota." Therefore
Resolved, That we pledge our time, our
m oney, our prayers and our votes, first, for
the adoption of the Sioux Fails constitution
on May IA; second, for the selection of such
men only to the July convention as are
earnestly in favor of constitutional prohibit
! ton; third, for ratification of constitutional
! prohibition at the October election; fourth,
l. nt al IN nm f1tn m f0 mn
and election of such officers from constable
to governor as are in hearty sympathy
wi tn this cause, and will respect their sworn
obligation and support the majesty of the
! law
! The foregoing was followed by the adop.
tion of a plan of work.
II is reported that Justice Matthews will
resign from the supreme bench, and that
Judge Gresham will be appointed his sue
cess or before the present term of the court
expires in May. -
The secretary of the interior has decided
to; bring suit against D. s. Miers and A. f.
| Hicks for $216 for Is, ,051 feet of lumber cut
on the public domain near Dagget Brook,
/ Mimi Hicks. who is a poor man, cut the
timber and soldit to Miers. Tie latter Of
fered to compromise, and the government
accepted his offer, but henever made Ii good
Now he government proposes to bring suii
tp SECURE the amount offered In compFomise