Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-09-09
Upholds the Prohibition Ticket.
RAPID CRY, S. d., SEPT. S. Is!

CphOislS the tFOy1lDllIOM 1lc.Set.
RAPID CITY, S. d., SEPT. 5, 1892.
Eplrog SrAR:-In looking over the
last issue of your paper | note all edi.
torial regarding the placing of q pro-
hibition party ticket in the field IN
South Dakota. You refer to it rs an
"%ungratefnl move" Permit me,
through the srAR,-a paper l ad n.1re-
to say a few words regarding the sub
ject upon which your editorial touched.
Why the national prohibition party
should withdraw from the contest in
any SAFE or under any circumstance,
l do not see. Your editorial takes the
ground that the republican party Of
South Dakota has Gathered our hobby
and caused a prohibition law to be
framed in the state constitution. If |
remember correctly, the prohibition
law as we now have it, was not cham
ploned as a party measure by the re-
publican party. 1t was voted on by
the people of the state on a non-par-
tlsian basis, and no party can singly
claim the honor of ENGRAVING the pro-
hibition law into our state constitution.
1t was the combined temperance
forces, regardless of party. that did it.
venture the assertion that today, if
the republican voters Of South Dakota
were to act on the prohibition ques-
ton, with all other parties shut out,
a majority of them would favor the
repeal Ct the law as we now have it.
Wherein the republican party has
"fathered' II hobby | fail to see.
Furthermore, if the republican party
of South Dakota is to be thanked for
the enactment Of our %prohibitory law,
it is to be blamed for the non-enforcp-
ment Of the same.
The law is not properly enforced.
and why? Simply because the party
IN power is not in sympathy with the
law, as a party. Rapid City has about
fourteen open. unlicensed saloons.
Our "hobby" seems to be without a
father up here. While in some
localities of u state the law is pretty
we'll enforced, on the whole, the result
Of the law has not been satisfactory.
Such a state Of affairs calls a political
party with prohibition and its rigid
enforcement, as a main issue; a roliti-
Cal party that is not afraid to incor-
porate a prohibition plank in its state
and national platforms; a party whose
press is unanimously in favor of the
home as against the saloon, and is not
ashamed or afraid to advocate these
principles; one whose members hold
virtue, purity and sobriety as more
precious than saloon Doodle; there is
one-and n only-such political
party, and that is the national prohi.
bition party.
Your editorial states that in support.
ing the prohibition state ticket we aid
the democrats. That argument" il
old. Had you carried out this sam
principle and not voted the republican
ticket for fear you would not "ge
THERE where would your party have
been? Again, are the prohibition,st
of South Dakota to give up voting fol
what they think is right just becaus
they will laid the democrats?:" AS
! patriotic and true American citizen.
prize my freedom and feel Thankful
for the privilege Of expressing my
honest belief at the ballot box. LIE
the prohibition party state tickle
come. am ready to ''help the demo
Gratis" by voting the prohibition tickt
from Bidwell for president, straigt
down to the prohibition road supel
visor, and l expect to have some con
pany while I am doing it, too.
Thanking the STAR for the space
have used, and admiring it FOR itsrfai