The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1894-01-13
proh,b,t,on In south Da,sota.

FfOnlOttlOn 1n SOutn DaNOtas
The wave of prohibitory legislation, on
the liquor question, is rolling backward.
The few fanatical Republican states that
adopted it find The currents of public
sentiment have sifted the sands and left
the party in a minority. These legis-
latOrs now revise their code OF morals,
and on the theory that inAjorities make
and unmake the Virtues. they are
abandoning principles which they lately
maintained were essential to and funda-
mental in the construction OF society.
In South Dakota prohibition is planted
! in the constitution. The great question
+, now before the Republican sayapts OF
that state is, how to get it out. They put
it there. and put it with salvos Of joy and
peans OF praise. 1t has proved to the
party neither thing of beauty nor joy
forever. Evidently it must go. Still,
within the party there is fiercely rad
ical element. Sho1ld the Republican
party Of South Dakota at its next state
convention declare for resubmission, it
would be swept off the face of the earth
at the ensuing election. This condition
forces the political experts to seek for a
straddle. In two past conventions these
ambidextrous gymnasts did succeed in
producing plank that could be read
from left to right, or right to left. Could
be read up or rea,l down with equal
pleasure and force. When the legislature
was last in session the party split wide
open upon the question of resubmission.
A strong lobby came down upon it.
There wete warm exchanges Of compli-
ments. The governor prayed with the
prolubs and drank with the resubmists
So did the greater part of the state otli-
GERS. Tie platform was read and reread
Much depended upon who did the reading
The conclusion was reached that the
| platform bore ont any action and any
position. 1t is said that powder is Of no
use after once being burned. Can the
Republicans use the same powder for
another shot? Can they again frame a
platform that means anything or moth
ing?
When the prohibitcry plank in the
constitution was placed there by the
meager majority Of 1000, certainly sen.
tinent has under gone radical change
since 1899. The law has proved wretch
ed failure. Its open violation teaches
lawlessness and citizenship. Go from
one end of South Dakota to another ant
saloons are as openly conducted as the,
ever were. There may be few llamlets
! where the forms of going in back dool
have to be observed, but even this is rare
On the grounds where Republican con
yentions are held booths are built ant
liquor is openly sold and members of th'
committee that frame prohibitory reso
lutions wet their whistles with the juic,
of the corn and barley. Hypocrisy be
comes virtue, and sin dressed in th
livery of holiness is honored and worship
ped. The Republican party is footsor
and tired Of prohibition but it can't un
load. Politicians like Senator Pettigrey
are put to double expense by it, He
three years ago, gave five hundred dol
lars to the enforcement league and thel
five hundred dollars to the brewers
league. This is the refinement of hypoc
risy, treachery and double dealing. le
Pettigrew Is far from being alone il
such disgraceful work.
The play O. the Republican POLITICAL
in South Dakota is to fool the public
The greater the success in this line til
higher the standing in the councils an
estimation of his party. He is above al
things straddler, and his ability
measured by the length Of his stride
Every man Of common sense knows tina
this grand game OF foolihs the publ
must sooner or later come to ali end, an
with that end comes the end of the Ill
principled scamps that have played tn
game. The hope Of South Dakota lies i
: areyolution within the Republican part!
when the rank and file get to see ho,
they have been duped and wronged by
set of riekstcrs.-Sioux City Tribune.