The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-10
One OF the Issues IN Iowa.


Prob ibition was one Of the leading issues
in the recent political campaign in Iowa
II Influenced as many votes probably as
any o-her issue that was discussed The
state has a prohibitory liquor law, which is
not successfully enforced, and, which there
; are good reasons for thinking, cannot be
enforced. The State has been trying TO en-
force it for several years. but the saloon
flourishes and the prospect is that it will
continue to DO so.
Gov. Boiss, who was the democratic
candidate for governor, and who was elected
by plurality Of about 5, goo, took the posi-
ton that prohibition was a mistake, for the
reason that a prohibitory liquor law could
not be enforced, and tlat intoxicating
/ liquors when sold surreptitiously DO more
harm than when sold openly. He advised
| that the liquor traffic he controlled by
means Of local option and high license.
/ The repu blicans were compelled to admit
that the sale Of intoxicating liquors had not
been prevented, although extraordinary
efforts had been made to enforce the PRO.
hibitory law. They had no suggestion 70
make as to how the sale Of intoxicants
might be prevented, but they insisted, how
ever, upon upholding the prohibitory law
The inconsistency of their position was 50
apparent that they lost ground steadily
throughout the campaign.
A number Of states have tried prohibi-
ton, but nowhere has prohibitory law put
stop to the sale Of intoxicating liquors.
In Maine, where prohibition has been IN
| force for many years, it is not difficult to
purchase almost any kind Of intoxicating
| liquor in any quantity, and the fact that
the sale Of intoxicating liquor is forbidden
seems to strengthen the desire for drink.
On the other hand great deal has been
accomplished in behalf of temperance by
local option and high license. By local
option Intoxicating liquor is voted out Of
towns and counties altogether, and prohi-
bition can be enforced In them because pub
lie sentiment sustains the prohibitory law.
1t is easy enough to enforce laws which are
upheld by vigorous public sentiment, but
it is about impossible TO enforce
any law which has not the
support Of public sentiment. There are
counties in Iowa in which prohibition
could be enforced, and the sale of intoxi>
cants in them would be prohibited, il the
state had local option law. The state as a
whole, however, is against prohibition,
and, hence the prohibitory law cannot be
enforced.
High license forces the lower grade of
saloons to CLOSE their doors and go out of
business, and in proportion as the number
Of saloons decreases the consumption of
intoxicants decreases. High license lessons
the temptation to drink.
The greater part Of this state has been
won by the prohibitionists by means Of
local option. If, instead OF local option
law, the state had a prohibitory law the
sale OF intoxicants would be prohibited no.
where within its limits. Eventually by
means of1ocal option all the counties, ex-
cePt those in which the larger cities are sit
uated, Will be won TO the cause OF temper =
ance.
The prohibitiouists of Atlanta are max
ing mistake in demanding absolute pro-
hihition. They should study the experience
Of other communities with prohibition
They are sincere, of course, but they would
do much more for the cause of temperance
by putting their city under high license
law than they would by absolute prohi-
| hilton