St. Paul daily globe., 1889-03-08

the statement without fear of contra
diction that the attempt to enforce pro-
hibition by prohibitOry laws In any
large city has never been successful.
Its success has been confined to the
Total abstinence is doing a grand work
all over this staIe. Bishop Ireland is
dong grander work for temperance
than all the men and women standing
back and clamoring for prohibition.
lApplause.] The w. c. T. q. has done
a noble work until, by a mistake, it
dragged the subject into politics.
The delay in temperance work
in this state is due to the
temperance, people themselves, who
are divided among themselves.
Let them unite and lay out their work
on. a practical line. and their success
will be unquestioned. l am opposed to
this act. but l urge upon these petit
tioners to take this issue and make it a
moral one. [Applausel.
Mr.. Hompe moved that when the
committee rise it report that the bill do
pass. MIR. Capser amended that it be
Indefinitely postponed, as did also MIR.
Lane.
Mr. Temple supported the measure
and thought it came as public demand
to the legislature.
FORBES.
Representative ForbeS-The question
has been absolutely settled that we have
the right to abolish the liquor traffic.
We can absolutely by enactment wipe
this traffic out OF existence. The queS-
tion has been settled also that tins traffic
is an evil. But as to the merit of high
license there is but One-it is source of
revenue and as al excuse Ior temper
aDce reform a mighty thin one. The
high license system manages to do the
most benefit where it is the least de-
served-storing its revenues in the city
treasures and not in those of the
counties. Its benefits are not equally
divided. As to our local option law
(such as we have now. It can only be
received by the village councils and
not by the people. The temperance
question is not one of party but OF the
whole people, and if ever settled to be
settled by them.
The opposition to high license two
years ago was the same as that to pro-
hibition now, and when Gov. McGill
had the courage to go down to the Grand
opera house as champion of high
license he was nearly mobbed-almost
sent into exile. The people of this state
ance legislation at the present time.
Who are we that we shall say to the
people of this state, who are petitioning
for this. that they shall not have it? Are
we their servants or their masters?
This is the voice of the people, and if
/ should vote against this constitutional
amendment, / should expect to dig my
political grave. My Judgment is that
the proper step to be taken is to submit
this question to the people. and let
them vote it up or down; and to
the w. G. T. U. | would give votes to
be used upon this question. [Applausel.
Instead of having them pray in parlors
OH this question, L would give them
votes to act upon it. [Applause.]
LANE.
Representative Lane-There are but
two sides to this QueStion-the theoreti-
cal and the practical, Theories accom-
plish nothing. The records in the in
ternal revenue department show that
the first year of prohibition in Kansas
the number of licenses issued was as
four and half to one in the past.
believe in temperance but | do not
believe in prohibition. You cannot
legislate men into temperance. The
gentleman from Otter Tail has re-
ferred to LeavenwOrth as an illus
stration of prohibitions effect. Yet l
found more saloons there when was
back-an Indian dogs. Prohibition in
Kansas, with the exception of Topeka
(where it is reasonably enforced), is
dead letter. 1t is so in Iowa and in
Maine. AS to Iowa, Gov. Lar
rabee is crank, with a big G.
| visited Maine and found on one square
in Portland four saloons-aDd the most
villainouS whisky man ever drank.
The editor of the Christian Union has
said that it is by no manner of means
we'll to try to pass prohibitory amend
ment in Pennsylvania. Why do we
want this law. anyway? We have
on our statute books now law
giving , authority to nsaEyihi+ any village age
sale of liquors. Now the Republican
party of this state has said that it would
stand by the high license system. We
have pledged ourselves to do this. This
is not a question of politics or senti-
ment, but one of cold-bloOded business.
Why don't you punish the man who
sells the revolver that is used in killing
another man? You can't legisiate on
this subject and do any good.
FLEMING.
Representative Fleming = There
breatheS not man, woman or child on
Gods green earth VINO is more in favor
of prohibition than am, nor one who
more loathes, despiseS and hates the
liquor traffic. But do not believe that
the time has arrived when this question
can safely be submitted to the people.
When | left home / was in favor
of constitutional prohibition now, but
after hearing the Rev. Sam
Smith. Mr., WOOlley and others
and reading the public press on this
subject l have reached the opinion that
to do away with our present high
license system would be one of the
most fearful acts this legislature could
perform.
While ! have all the respect for the
noble ladies of the W. G.. L. u. l cannot
suffer them to say to me that because |
differ with them l am opposed to The
been told that there was
(the Scandinavians) was in favor of this
measure. L respect them, but l am
willing to wait and see if they desert
the Republican party, whether or no
they get any greater relief from the
party to which they must go. While
this may defeat us at the next election,
after that they will be willing to return
to the Republican party and work for
the common end-the elimination of
the saloon. tell you that if there is
single temperance man in this house
VINO does not see the right end practic-
ally secured. for Gods sake don't vote
for constitutional prohibition now;
wait, the good day is coming.
SEARLE.
Representative Searle-I have but lit
tie sympathy with the so-called Third
party movement, but profound re-
spect for that class of temperance peo-
pie represented by the gentlemen from
Otter Tail and Rice Rut less than