The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1892-07-01
PROHIBITION AND THEPLATFoRM

One OF the questions which must Re
met, and met fairly, in the coming Re-
publican state convention is the attitude
to be taken by the party on the subject
of prohibition. And it can only be so
met through an interchange of views
between representatives of various
phases of sentiment on the question.
which shall lead to a common ground of
agreement. The REPUBLICAN be-
lieves that the time has come to discuss
this matter from this standpoint, and
has no hesitancy in saying that the par-
ty as such ought not to be expected to
continue to make it an issue. The
principle of prohibition has been placed
in the constitution OF the state and laws
for its enforcement haye been put upon
the statute book; and as the party in
power during the period when this leg
islation was had the Republican party.
although a respectable minority of it's
membership has accepted the Situation
under protest, has certainly done its
full share in response to what has
seemed ademand from a majority of the
people OF the state for such legislation.
Further than this, quite q proportion of
former Republicans, who when in the
party held prohibition to be the para
mount issue, haye gone out of it's ranks
into an organization which has but re-
Gently accomplished the most transpar-
ent straddle of the question that any
party was ever guilty of on any trouble
some question. On the other hand,
honest anti-prohibition Republicans
have acquiesced in the position of the
party year after year, and they certain
ly have right to some consideration,
now that the principle has become as
firmly established as it possibly can be
by party action and legislative enact
ment. If the law cannot stand on it's
own merits now all the platform
resolutions in the world can not help it,
while they are sure to result in the i'm
pairment OF the party standing on prin-
ciples upon which the party has been
builded, and which existed long before
the question Of police regulation of the
liquor traffic was dignified to the impor-
tance OF a party issue.
Believing as we do that prohibition
has no longer any claim TO be consider
ed a live issue in the state convention
we do not lose sight of the fact that il
will cut some figure in the selection ol
members of the legislature, for it is on
ly through resubmission of the consti
tutional amendment that any change
can be effected. In the Legislative dis
tricts, then, the fight will have to be
made, regardless of the attitude taker
by the state convention, and there i:
where it should be made. There car
be do falrer test of the sentiment of the
state, and if it is thought advisable tt
hold separate legislative convention:
the issue can be met squarely on it:
merits, unembarrassed by any complica
tions. If the majority sentiment of tho
Republican party in any county is anti
prohibition and yet the majority senti
ment of the. voters of the county irre
spective of party be for prohibition
there can be no objection on the part o
either side to abiding by the result Q
the test: or vice versa.
Under these conditions, then, ther
can be no possible excuse for making tn
question test as applied to either stat
or county officers, or in this year to TN
national ticket. In support OF our view
we quote the following from the recen
call for state convention by the From
bition party of South Dakota:
The committee suggest that there b
no state ticket put in the field, neithe
county tickets, except where all othe
parties entirely ignore the issue OF l'rt
hibition by nominating candidates 10
State Senator and Representative VIII
are in favor of resubmissiOn.