The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-04-18
A FAIR PROPOSITION.
SHALL WE HAVE A THOROUGH AND
HONEST INVESTIGATION?

Published-Prohibition Must Stand or
Fall on Its Merits.
Chairman Dickie. Of the national Fro
hibition committee, has sent the follow
ing important communication to the
editor of The Omaha Bee, an anti-Pro-
hibition journal No fairer proposition
was ever made by the advocates of any
reform. The Prohibitionists are more
fortunate than the supporters of "single
tax" Nationalism and other social theo-
ries, in that they can point to the argu-
ment of facts and deduce lessons from
the experience of the past.
Now, when public attention is devoted
to social and political reform, and there
is so much discussion of the relative
merits of Prohibition and h. III license,
an inquiry along the lines proposed be-
low would be an evidence of journalistic
enterprise. Let the investigation be
made. Here follows the letter:
TOPEKA, Kan Feb. 81, 1890.
E. Rosewater, Esq, Editor Omaha Bee.
DEAR SIR was pleased to notice in
a recent Bee editorial that you declare
clearly in favor of giving the peo-
pie facts rather than sentiment regard
ing the question of Prohibition. All
thoughtful citizens will agree with you
at once, that the question now pending
in Nebraska, and to be decided by the
adoption or rejection of the proposed
prohibitory amendment, is one of such
serious importance that it ought not to
be decided without the fullest discussion
and the plainest presentation of the truth
in the case. 1t is gratifying to know
that a journal with the wide circulation
and undoubted influence of The Bee pro-
poses to use its columns to give the peo-
pie facts concerning Prohibition
In other amendment campaigns it has
sometimes occurred that influential pa
pers have taken quite different course
and used their columns to deceive rather
than inform their readers.
For the next eight months no subject
will so absorb the popular mind in Ne
braska as that of Prohibition Nothing
will be read with more interest than the
utterances Of the press thereon. The de-
mand will Justify the devotion of consid-
cradle space to this theme, even though
baseball reports be shortened and an oc-
casional slugging match or horse race be
crowded out altogether. Will you allow
me to offer a suggestion? am the more
free to do so on account of your pro-
nounced intention to give the people facts.
Would it not be evidence of journal
istic enterprise and matter of great in
terest to your many readers if you would
detail competent and well known men,
ber of your staff, who for thirty, sixty
or ninety days shoulu make critical
study of Prohibition in Kansas and Iowa,
publishing from day to day sworn
statement of the results of his investi-
cations?
l note few lines of inquiry that
would. no doubt, yield interesting mat
ter for the present campaign. Others
will suggest themselves as the work ad-
vances. should you decide to undertake
it, Such special Investigator could OBJ
tain:
l. Brief, pointed opinions from well
known citizens in Kansas and Iowa.
2. Interviews with men of all classes
and all opinions.
3. Let him visit the poor houses, jails
and penitentiaries; collect information,
examine the records of such institutions,
secure written statements from the Off
GERS in charge, and, in general, make a
critical and exhaustive examination of
the relation which pauperism and crime
bear to the liquor traffic and of the re-
suits of Prohibition, whether favorable
or otherwise
4. Let him consult the courts and their
records along the same line.
8. He should determine what effect, If
any, Prohibition has had on the rate of
taxation.
6. Investigate the matter of savings
by the working people, the increase or
decrease in the number of savings banks
and their deposits, as well as any change
in the class of depositors that may be
due to Prohibition.
Z. Consult business men, grocers,
butchers, dry goods and boot and shoe
dealers as to what effect Prohibition has
had on their sales.
8. Obtain facts and nothing but facts
concerning all possible relations of Pro-
hibition to the general welfare.
am persuaded that such an investi-
cation carried ON by a trained newspa-
per man, who should undertake the task
without bias, hut in ent ON securing and
publishing the truth. would be of meal
culable value in enabling the voters of
Nebraska to cast their ballots intelli,
gently upon the proposed amendment.
Certainly the truth can injure no good
cause.
So deeply am impressed with the i'm
portance of the proposed investigation
that am willing to make you the fol-
lowing proposition:
Should you not deem it desirable to
incur the expense incident thereto will
nominate to you a suitable man for the
work, who shall satisfy you of his entire
fitness for the task. | will also provide
for his compensation for services and ex-
penses to make a thorough examination
of the problem proposed, upon the simple
condition that his reports shall be printed
in The Bee to the extent of two columns
psr day for at least five days in each
week, so long as we mutually deem it
desirable to continue the investigation.
If you do not feel like devoting so
much space to this purpose l would be
pleased to consider any modification of
the above proposition that you may wish
to make.
Hoping to hear from you at your ear