New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-16
TEMPERANCE REFORM md THE THIRD
P1RTT

The Legislature of 1890 voted to submit a
Prohibition Amendment to the voters OF this
State at a special election to be held on the
second Tuesday of April, 1891. TIE same
LEGISLATURE passed bill prohibiting the grant
ing of a license to sell liquor to saloons stand
ing within quarter of mile Of aSylums for
inebriates also bill prohibiting police officer
from having any pecuniary interest in the sale
of louors. II further exhibited its interest in
practical temperance reform by declining to
pass a bill, perSistently pressed by the repre-
sentatives of the rum power all through the
session. which. in case it had become law,
would have rendered it well-nigh impossible
10 prevent the unlawful sale of liquors. Some
of the measures of related interest notably the
gb-License bill, did indeed fail to get
through but the fact remains that the Legis-
lature of 1890 made record on the temper
ance question which entities the Republican
MARTY to the continued confidence of the people
who desire to conserve the moral progress of
New-York. The Legislature was Republican
in both branches, and all the support which
the Temperance Reform bills received was
from Republican members. The Democrats, as
usual presented substantially solid front
against anything and everything to which the
saloonkeepers objected. If the Democracy had
been in control there can be little doubt that
the Excise laws would have been amended in
such wise as to delight all who are to be re-
garded as the enemies of temperance reform.
Well, "The Voice" the organ of the Third
party people, understands all this. But with
Characteristic unfairnesS it declines to render
unto the Republican party the recognition
which is it's due. 1t does not award it one
word of commentator for the passage of the
measures referred to or for the defeat of the
Endres bill. but unites with "The Wine and
Spirit Gazette''-a nice company-in taking a
gloomy view of the popular vote which has
been secured on the Prohibition Amendment.
"The Wine and Spirit Gazette" is depressed
beyond measure as it thinks OF the cost of that
popular vote. 1t places the figures at 5000, 600,
and exclaims that the Democrats will not be
slow to make party capital ont OF tins mex
cusable waste of public money" How touch
ing Think of the Democratic party and this
Democratic organ backing the rum power,
which is largely responsible for the necessity
that exists for the maintenance of such costly
institutions as prisons, penitentiaries and asy-
lums. and at the same time shedding scalding
tears at the cost of a popular vote on Con-
stitutional Amendment of vital importance.
THE Voice surveys the situation with sad
uess. but not for the same reason. 1t scents
a deep, dark conspiracy in the provision that
the vote shall be taken at a special election /;
it is seriously dissatisfied because the Ballot
Reform bill does not apply to amendment cleo
lions, and it serves notice upon whom it may
concern that if it appears the amendment
has 10 chance of passing the members OF the
Prohibition party are not going to be such
fools as to eXpend their money and energies
on a hopeless campaign against Doodle and
bribery"
That "The Wine and Spirit Gazette will
be greatly pleased with the position taken by
1.-THE Voice. is evident. The former is dead
against the amendment. The latter takes such
a languid interest in it that it candidly de-
clares if the outlook for its passage does not
seem promising the Third party will funk.
Reformers who explain that they will 90 in
for reform provided they are convinced that
reform has got good chance of succeeding,
but that otherwise they are not such fools as
to eXpend their money and energies on hope
less, campaign ''-pformers of that style, con-
tingent reformers are not impressive. What
ever may be the fate of the amendment, it will
not be forgotten that "The Voice. when it
heard that a popular vote had been ordered,
nnounced-what? That the Third party
would Immediately proceed to take off its coat
and 90 to work for the passage of the amend
ment, with the dauntless courage of its con-
victons? That the Third party would stead
lily stump for the amendment from now on
until the second Tuesday of next April? That
the Third party had determined to make a
house-t house campaign for the amendment ?
Oh. no. "The Voice" announced that if the
Third party found the canvass discouraging it
would desert the amendment. Refomers who
reform are made of sterner stuff.
THE LOUISIANA LOTTERY DODGE