The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-07-05
a Significant aanc..au.

st. q Pioneer Press; And now little
Rhode Island has risen in her might and
thrown oil the yoke of prohibition
Three years ago a prohibition amend
ment was adopted in that state by a ma
jority Of t. 000 and it is now repealed by
a majority OF 1900. Ii was repealed
because prohibition had proved an un
nitigstcl curse. Its practical effect was
10 remove every restriction from the sale
OF Intoxicating liquors aud deliver over
every city in the state TO the reign Of free
rum. The people of Rhode Island have
had enough Of prohibition and they
voted 1t down last Thursday by over
three times the majority, winch they
give three years ago in favor of The eX
pertinent. Following close upon the
tremendous defeat vi prohibition in
Pennsy lvania TWO days before, it is sig
n~iteant of the Increasing energy of the
reaction against prohibition which has
been Illustrated BY lis rejection in every
state where prohibitory amendments have
been submitted to the popular vote dur
ing the last two years, The only states
in Which stale prohibition now prevails
are MaiGe-its original crudle-and the
purely rural states of Iowa and Kansas.
There are few cities OF any considerable
size IN either OF these states, but III every
such city IN all The three prohibition
states it has been practically a deadletter
except for brief periods of time, since
the policy was adopted. II cannot be
long before it is abandoned ever in these
its first and last strongaolds for the same
reasons which have induced its rejection
elsew here.
IIlc prohibition policy is not in favor
with the practical ommon sense OF the
American people, because their practical
common sense has found Il lar more
eIlicAcious way OF dealing with the liquor
question. Experience has demonstrated
that prohibition can easily be enforced
sentiment is Overwhelmingly or largely
in favor OF ii. 1t has demonstrated with
equgl certainty that it caunotbe enforced
in large centers OF population, and that
III such places Prohibition means simply
free ram. Hence the genera! approval
Of the policy which prevails in Mime
sofa and several other states, and which
is embodied in the phrase, High license
and local option" local option means
prohibition in places where public senti
inentis stloag enough to enforce 1t, and
the most stringent forms ii restriction
AID regulation in places where it cannot
be enforced. THIS plan has recently
.baon adopted in Pennsylvania, and it il
tic popular approval Of TINS common
SENSE method OF dealing with the liquo.
traffic which accounts foi the oyerwhclm
ing defeat OF tie state prohibition hum
bug in that state, High license itsel
operates as g form OF prohibition il
many localities where public sentiEen
I is not strong enough TO sustain u nc
license policy. Many a country cross
2 roads saloon has been driven out of III
cuisines b. the inubility of its proprieto
70 pay Inc l4!4H Alcthsc IAStl pJ eLc law
Hundreds of low doggerieg, the fayorit
. resorts OF the vicious and dlsorderIy Gle
meat, aad tie yilest nurseries Of vic
and crime, lave been compelled for til
! sane reason to g ont of the business
The saloorkeepcrs that are able to con
tiuua in the business are under sever
restrictions in the iEtercsto of public orde
and public morals, and they are ohiige
to pay such ieavy contributions into ii
e %ee!Icrs Of the municipality as constitut
q sensible relief to the taxpayer. Thel
can BE no doubt that this policy Of mig
license and local option is the most sens
bic ana feasible means Of dealing wit
the liquor question which has ever bee
triea in this country. 1t is very likel
Q before many years 10 he adopiedin ever
state Of the Union, aud with its genert
8, adoption it cannot fail to tell powe
folly in the dimlnution Of the evils
Sc incompetence.