The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-09-02
w. C. t. U. NOTES.
TEMPERANCE IN POLITICS.

A great many excellent people object
to carrying temperance into politics,
apparently not recognizing the fact
that the liquor traffic has been i'm pol
tiles for good many years, and that
the only way to get it out is to 90 af-
ter it. When men are hunting a wild
beast they follow it even to its lair.
The liquor traffic makes no secret of
its political moves and ambitions. 1t
collects and dispenses vast sums of
money for political purposes; it Sc
cures pledges from candidates for
office on condition of its support; it
elects its own representatives; it de-
vises and promotes the passage of
bills calculated to advance its own
Interests, and resorts to bribery and
intimidation to defeat bills on a con-
trary character; it is ever alert and
assertive at political caucuses and
conventions to see that nothing is per-
mitted to creep into proclamation or
platforms seriously inimical to its in
terests. Temperance in politics!
Strange indeed it is that some people
should want to see it have at least an
even chance there with those old time
politicians the beer keg and the
whiskey bottle?-Thc Christian at
Work.
The absurd idea that the question of
prohibition is not political question
is ably refuted by Judge n. c. Nc
Farland, of this city. He says:
at has been stated as reason why
prohibition should not be a plank in
the Republican platform of Kansas
that it is not political, but a moral
question. A reference to the diction-
airy will satisfy anyone that prohibit
ton comes fairly within the range of
politics, so far as definition is concern
ed. A little reflection must show to
eminently political. Who does not
know that the liquor power is contin
ually thrusting this question into
practical politics, and on every avail
able Occas ion makes its power felt at
the ballotsboX? In cities counties and
states where the republican and DEM
Ocratic parties are nearly balanced, to
nominate an avowed temperance can
didate invites defeat. 1t is rule that
scarcely admits of an exception, that
in cities where saloons are licensed,
they control the elections. In the
city of Topeka, where there are prob
ably two republicans to one democrat,
suppose there were seventy-five or
hundred licensed saloons; what would
be the action of the saloon element?
The first effort would undoubtedly be
to control the primaries of the repub-
lican party, knowing that but few of
the business and orderly citizens at
tended those meetings. They would
most probably succeed. But if they
failed, they would seek to have "cit-
liens" or peoples" ticket, or failing
in this they would unite with the DEM
ocrats; and though the republican ma
jOrity is so large, they would most
likely succeed. With anything like
evenly balanced parties, they would
be sure to. Here is the very essence
of pOlitics-tO determine the kind of
government we should have. This
statement that there is no politics in
it is usually made without any state
ment of facts or reason to support it;
and it is never honestly made, because
persons making it will admit that
open saloons are curse to any city.
Saloon keepers will themselves admit
this, They produce more misery and
crime than the gambling house or the
brOthel-mOre than both combined. |
4 IL agree that there must be laws for
the suppression of these last named. |
They all, or nearly, all agree that
there must be laws for the regulation
of liquor selling. Now when you get |
into the domain of making laws
whether this law or that law will be |
the best for general good-yOu are
into the domain of politics |
rs it is defined in the dictiOnary."-l
OR Messenger.
There is not rumseller in the land |
who would not tremble if he knew he
was to be tried before jury composed |
of intelligent women. l never knew
one of this class who was honestly in
favor of woman suffrage.-HoR. II.
II. F'dcOR.
A good Methodist brother says in a
letter recently received: "What is
needed now in Kansas is stirring up
the Christians. They are sleeping,
many of them, but the liquor hosts
are at work like beavers secretly, but
If there is any failure as
to our prohibitory law, the church of
Christ will be responsible.-Our Mes
senger.