The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-10-08
Col c. A. Clark Delivers Z Rafting
Speech at AlzOna.
PROHIBITION THE BIG issue
It's Iniquitv, Non-Success and Its Dis
advantages Made Plain.
DAMAGE DONE TO Tow A
xsKinlsyi'n Aids the WHISKY Sellers
Iowa Compared With Other states - to
Number Of esloons -RsgulatiAg
the Only Question.

ALTOONA, Sep. 12.-Col. Charles A.
Clark. Of Cedar Rapids. spoke at the
court house hall this evening to large
and attentive audience. on the live issses
Of the day in his own unique and original
way. dwelling principally on the state
iasue. taking up the prohibition question
and handling it without gloves, showing
Its effect on the moral and material
growth Of the state. showing also how
the Mckinley bill aided tho whisky seller
in his traffic, casting vast amount Ct
light on this subject; also showing how
the last tariff law aided the wine makers
Of California in avoiding Internal reve-
nue., though turning out with "a per cent
of alcohol. lie also furnished table
showing the number Of saloons ~ the
amount Of inhsbitans 10 In the state. Iowa
stands nine zenith Ia tho list. The
speech from beg ming to end was . we'll
adjusted logical argument that must con.
v. nee any nj an or voter open TO convic.
lion. II should be heard in every county
IN the eta Q - the words fell from his
eloquent lips, ~ the fruit of the thoughts
ri ns clear and logical mind. He spoke
as follows:
shall devo.e my remarks on this occasion
folely to the question OF the licensed sale OF
tntoxicants In communities which favor the
plan as avainst what 10 falsely cslled ''pro-
hibition.'
Prohibition Aisnomer.
Falsely called prohibition; becsuse that
method Itself 10 only ; more stringent form
VI reg ularion Of the liquor traffic. even In
theory, while In practice lis harsh measures
do more harm than 1oodi and from proving
ineffective aggrayaie the very evils which IL
seeks 10 sbrogate. Nobody proposes TO
wholly prohibit the liquor traffic The me-
chsni,al and medicinal purposes to which
alcohol IL applied In every civilized com.
munity are au tnsu perabie obstacle 70 ALSO.
lu prohibition. 70 wholly prohibit would
be to reyolutionize medicine and the Indus.
tries, no less than social tastes and individ-
uAi appstites. What 90 called prohibition
attempts TO do, IL TO regulate the sale, so
that 1t may be mad freely Tor mediainal aud
mechanical purposes, but may not be had &C
Ill ne q beverage.
A moments thought must convince any
candid Hind that regulation OF this character
presents very great diff su,ti-s. NJ method
has been devised aud u.ne eau be, ~ which
spirits. wine an beer, so for medicine, can
become sacf IDLY dediested 20 that purpose
30. AZ the, may bot be used ~ . beverage;
nor BY which alcohol, sold for mechanical
purposes, may not be uss>d foe drunken de.
bauch.
On this que st on there 10 clearly a growing
conviction that the license system OF regua-
ton, advocated by the grea. mass or the re.
puDlicsH party, outside o. prohibition fac
lions In six states, aid advocated by the der,-
ocratsc party, IS party, in ali of the states.
Is . more honest, eff ,ient and rational sys-
tenn or regulation than sham pro:iibitions
which not only does not pronibit, but does
NOT regulate and contnol.
Regulation tho Oaly Question.
But it helps US to . clearer idea of the issue
to be solved ia this campaign, to remember
that res ulatton OF the liquor traffic 10 what
8 proposed on all hands. That IL what the
democratic party proposes. II is what the
repu 1iicaus propose. It's what the prohlbi-
iionists themselves propose. Nobody pro-
p SEES TO prohibit. Sat that down ~ y fact,
and do not lose eight OF 1t. The only ques-
ton before the people Of Iowa today Is, what
is the best and most eiiieieat system OF rsgu.
lation. As 10 this, there Is among the
IN asses, an honest difference OF opinion.
Democrats honestly believe that License and
local option is the m ,st efficient system OF
Prohb.tiou.sts, Ia spite of thet
big0try and Intolerance, honestly believe that
their nostrum is the best. But for tho re-
publican party leaders 10 aFrogAte themselves
special purity and holiness bscause they Gd-
voca.e that nostrum this year, and 10 xssail
TIE morals, the sincerity, the good purposes
OF all those waod,f,sr from them, Is rank dis
honesty, hypocrisy and sham. These men
are nitfe iTimmers and time servers. and IL
they have 4 sincere conviction or Any kind
on iris question, II 10 the conviction that the
pi ohibtiOn faction has driven them into
bad box, and t6at they will hurl ~ many un.
savory epithetS as possible In order 10 con-
ccAl their own discontinue.
The Judgment Ut the Nation ana the World
Aealess Prohibition
For these men know that the republican
party, as a whole, Is honestly az Ai1st prohibt-
tive REGULATION much as the democratic
party 10. In thirty-e.ght states the test OF
republication adopte1 BY the party leaders In
Iowa this year would be instantly rejected,
and they know IL. In these thirty Gig hit
states their republican brethren and party
associates are q. n whole for regulation by
the icel system. In forty-four states
tbs democratic party Is unit
for that kys,cm. AL other civilized na-
tions and people are for that aystem. the
popular verdict in this country, among re-
pu picans as we'll Ms among democI ats, 10 80
Overwhelmingly in favor Ut the license sys.
tenn tina, So great and popular party leader
ae James g. Blaine refused 10 anlagonizc the
masses OF his political associates by voting
for constitutional prohibition In Maine. This
ever whelming prep IN 1erance OF numbers:
this general agreement OF public opinion ev-
cry where against prohibition, 10 entitled 20
respectful treatment and consideration. No
mere faction OF party In Iowa Is warranted
In assuming that 1t alone IL right and the
Iteat masses OF American cititens aad OF the
people Of tho world are ell wrong, and rot
only wrong but corruptly bent on mai atain.
inv immortality, vice and CRIME because they
Re Ell prohibition ~ an effective means Of
deaung with the liquor traffic. Ths hypo.
critics who are denuuncing the democratic
party OF Iowa because their judg ment on
tbs question Is In accord with the best judg-
ment Of The nation and the world, know
these facts: They know that In de-.
crats Tor hvor,ng the license sys-
tenn. they are equally aenouncing and
viilifying many tho .sands Of license republi.
cans In Iowa, and the great body OF the re-
Publican party everywhere In the union; they
are equally denoancinH and yiliifyipg the ma
uann whole, and are iioelinK tho whole
LumAn family wherever civilization exists;
ana yet they continue their Trades. as though
they, and the faction which dominates them,
were the sai OF the earth, without Whose In
el. uif,caIt existence oil hore Of moral refor.a
would be blot,ea out forever. Their ssupes
deus presumption md cCro-tery IL only
eqsled ny their sruculent aud L,shoucs: rant
and cant. When any little kaOt OF men rs.
fnme To act ~ eensors and moral superiors
OF millions OF ,ncir party associates OF the
nation an of tie world every presumpti, IN u
a. sinst thera, and they must establish their
clAim TO such super.human pro-eminencs and
excellence ty solid argument and eolil rActs
rather than by coarse inyectives aud by i'm
puyning She sincerity and honesty OF all who
differ from the IN.
Prohibition Beaten In Argument.
That tacse men Are beaten In arguEen: and