The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-08-21
The Nebraska Campaign for Pro-
hibition.

By the action Of the Legislature Of
y 1rasks two constitutional amendments
relating TO the liquor traffic are To be vo-
ted upon at the general election next
November. One of these amendments
proposes 70 prohibit the liquor traffic;
the other proposes to license and regu
late it. The light will be squarely be-
tween these two Amendments. II the
license Amendment il ratified the license
and regulation Of the traffic In every
city, town and village Of the State Is made
obligatory. There can be no local o.
ton towns, or villages, or counties. pro-
vided there are applications for license.
Il will be the duty of the proper authori
ties TO grant licenses wherever applica-
tons properly made are presented to
them. On the other hand II Prohibition
is adopted the entire license system is
swept away and the manufacture and sale
OF inioxicants are prohibited throughout
I the STATE.
Nebraska has tried the high license sys-
TEN. and It Is notorious that that system
has failed utterly where it ought to have
succeeded best, namely, in the city of
Omaha. If half the reports concerning
theistate of affairs in that city are true.
high license is butts cover for shocking
immortality. 1t is true that the city has
8 very large income from its licensed sa-
looms; but many of these saloons. in
stead Of being improved in character by
the large fee they are compelled to pay,
are, II they are not greatly maligned,
sinks of vice aud. immortality At the
worst, Prohibition, however loosly en-
/ forced, could not be as bad as the pres
| ent system. The leaders of the Prohibi-
ton cause are quite right in making the
| emancipation of Omaha one of the war
| cries of the campaign. If Prohibition Is
needed in Omaha, il is equally desirable
that the rest of the State should have it.
There are other reasons why the State
should be carried against the Saloon next
November Nebraska should be Prohibi-
ton ground because of the Prohibition
sentiment by which it is surrounded. To
the north of it are the two Dakotas, to
the east, lows, and to the south, kansas
81! Prohibition territory. The success of
the campaign in Nebraska would greatly
strengthen Prohibition in all that section
/ OF country. 1t would be an encourage
ment 10 the friends of the cause in the
four neighboring States which already
have Prohibition, and to those in Mon
tana, Wyoming, Colorado. Minnesota,
Missouri and Arkansas, which have Pro-
hioition only in localities. Instead of
there being four contiguous States, as
now, in which the Saloon is outlawed.
there should and might be st least ten
| States. Those, therefore who labor for
the emancipation of Nebraska, are also
lsboring for the emancipation of other
States.
The conduct of the campaign is in the
hands of non partisan prohibitorv
amendment league, which is well organ
lied, well differed, and which is deter
N ned TO do everything that can be done
TO win Nebraska for Prohibition. In 8
letter the President says: The usual i'm
portance of the contest is fully rnder-
stood and appreciated by the liquor as
socistions. They have made the cause of
the Nebraska liquor dealers their cause.
Their financial resources are practically
exhsustless. Great newspapers are betty
hrloed to suppress the truth and dissent
nate falsehood. Avsrice, appetite. ig-
norsnce, prejudice and passion are being
carefully fostered and appealed to In the
Interests of the liquor traffic; that, wher-
ever possible, fraud will be attempted st
the coming election is reasonably GER
tain.
But the people of Nebraska are of more
than average intelligence. From the
presence of the lawless and licentious ele-
ments of population which congregate 10
Isrge cities and in mining and manufsctu-
ring communities. the State is compare
lively free. If the relative effects OF pro-
hioitlon and license are fairly and fully
presented to the voters of Nebraska
large maj ority for the prohibitory ament-
ment may be confidently expected II
the friends of constitutional prohibition
in other States will contribute one-tenth
as much to secure its adoption as liquor
dealers in ,other States will expend to de-
feat it, We will be reasonably certain of
victory.
The Non Partisan Prohibitory Amend
ment League mas been organized solely
for the purpose of securing the adoptio II
of the proposed prohibitory amendment
10 the constitution Of Nebraska, II is
composed of members of all political par.
ties. 1t is.the only State organization in
Nebraska broad enough in its character
TO receive into its membership and fura-
ism work Tor every man, woman ana
child OF whatever religion or political e.
llef, who favors constitutional prohibit
ton. In its fight against the combined
lqu rsnterests of the nation, it needs tha
active sympathy and the financial aid of
The temperance sentiment of the who'e
nation. 1t needs such aid now. Sp'n-
did opport mites for vote making are -
ing neglected for want of funds to uli-
lie them. You are invited to aid the
league in its fight for Prohibition by con-
tributing to the campaign fund. Every
dollsr received will be so expended as to
secure the best re-ults In vote. making.
Send all contributions 10 the League
Treasurer, the Hon. John NJ. Stewart, at
Lincoln, Nebrasks.-Independent.