Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-04
TIME FOR A CHANGE.
Clarkson Deserts the Standard of
Prohibition in Iowa.
AFTER A TEST OF SEVEN YEARS
The Enforcement of the Law Proves to be
Impracticable.
POSITION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

WASHINGTON, April 3.-A reporter to.
dav called upon Mr.. Clarkson, First As.
sist,nt Postmaster General, and asked him
in regard to the causes which resulted in the
State conference of the anti Prohibition Re-
publcans in Iowa, and for his views as to
the action taken by the convention. Mr..
Clarkson said:
1t is best TO admit frankly that this confer.
ence was made up of influential Republicans,
headed by Ex-Governor kirkwood, formerly
United states Senator and afterward Secretary
of the Interior. 1t is impossible for anyone
outside Of Iowa to undersIa land the present feel
ing there unless he knows all of the facts.
Iowa is very strong temperance State. When
the Democrats had control Of il in the ntues
the sentiment even then was so strong that that
party passed prohibition law, prohibiting the
sale OF all KINDS ot liquors. wines and Deer.
LITTLE HISTORY.
The Republicans at about the beginning Of
the war, largely under the influence Of German
immigration. amended the law SO as to permit
the sale of ale. wine and beer, while alcoholic
liquors still remained absolutely prohibited
Temperance agitation went on. and at last grew
strong enough TO demand prohibition. tlnaIy
II took the form of a popular movement 1or
Constitutional prohibition amendment, and two
Republican Legislatures took the necessary
action to submit the amendment TO the people
A non-partisan election was ordered for une
"a. lSS2, and prohib was carried BY ABOUT
$1,000 majority. The Supreme Court atterWard
declared the amendment invalid because OF
some technical error IN the preliminary legisla-
ton for its submission. With the amendment
thus overthrown the temperance people &C.
manded of the Republican party the enactment
of prohibtory law and the party, recognizing
the instruction OF the people at the polls, en-
acted the present prohibitory law,
ON TRIAL SEVEN YEARS.
1t went into effect July 4, 1883; it has there
fore been on trial for nearly seven years. L
speak of it from the standpoint of one who
supported the amendment and afterward sup
ported the enactment of the law-not because
believed it TO be infalllbly right but because
all other methods having failed in efficiency,
and this being deemed a good method by
large body of the people felt, and the Hepub-
lican newspaper men generally Ielt that 1t was
worthy of trial. 1t has had seven years trial,
and, while it has proved an admirable law for
the agricultural counties and the smaller towns,
it has failed to find the public opinion to inforce
itself in the larger cities and In the counues on
the Mississippi river which are largely settled
by people of European birth.
II is an open fact that it cannot be enforced
in such localities without State constabulary
which the temper of the Iowa people would
never permit. The legislation to enforce it has
been as severe and autocratic as would ever be
permitted by free people am frank to say
that it has failed in these large cities. In per-
haps IS counties of the State it well enforced
and has largely emptied the jails in 80 OF 60
counties; and the people in such counties are
very devoted TO it and would not surrender it.
NOT A UNITED PARTY.
The Republican party has never been united
in the support of the measure. As many as
$4,000 or co., 600 Republicans have been opposed
to il, but have gone along with the party, will
ing to see the experiment tried Now that it
has been tried seven years ami has failed in
part, they insist that the law should be amend
ed SO to give prohibition to the so per cent of
Iowa where public opinion favors and entoroes
IT, but that some other methods of regulating
and repressing the traffic should be given to the
20 per cent of the State where experience
shows that it never Gamble enforced.
This convention of Wednesday was repre-
sentative of these $1,000 OF 5000 Republicans
The most Of them are as loyal to the party as
any others. They feel that having served
with patience seven years the trial of prohibi-
tion the party should now take such action as
will utilize the wisdom gained by this trial and
experience and modify the law, making prohi-
bition the general rule in the State, and give to
large cities the option of license. My own
judgment is that some such notifications
should be made.
OF course it would cause some injury to the
party, but it is pretty plain that greater injury
will be caused to the party If it is not done.
Besides if it is right it ought to be done on that
account The demand of this convention for
silent platform will not be successful. 1t is not
the temper of the Iowa people to be silent on
any question. The present Legislature should
in my judgment, modify the la y as demanded
by the experience of actual trial.
THE BEST PLAN.
That will give to the prohibition communities
prohibition law and it will give to the cities
where prohibition cannot be enforced, a law
which will give the maximum of control of the
traffic The suggestion for another vote on a
constitutional amendment does not meet the
question. Seven years experiment should be
followed by action. Besides do not believe it
right TO vote anything of an experimental
character into a constitution. Experiments
may be tried by legislation and can be tried as
well, and the Constitution is not the place for
such experiments / do not think there is any,
thing very serious in the matter The common
sense of the Republican party of Iowa has
always served it WELL and l am sure it will in
this instance.
The people are generally tolerant, and after
the anuprohibltion Republicans consented to
trial of prohibition for seven years the pro-
hlbltlonlsts should now in turn be willing to |
see The communities which have shown them
selves to be arti-prohibition try some other
method. All temperance legislation is expert |
mental. No one knows what is infallbly right
All good people wish to reach such legislation
as will be nearest right and most repressiye of
the liquor trade and, if possible, destructive of
II; but common sense, and earthly common
sense, must regulate in this matter as in all
other affairs of men; and compromise be
finally reached after trial and experiment of
that which will do the most good for the great
est number Iowa is face to face with this
science and wisdom.