Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1895-01-25

strongest advocates of our law are the
liquor dealers of East Grand Forks, and
other Minnesota towns along the Red
River. If he doesn't know it, it is Ger.
tain that every citizen of this state who(
has visited those places and talked within
the saloon.keepcrs knows it, And these
men belong to class that Is willing and
able 10 put up money to fight resubmis->
sion in North Dakota. He knows, or ought
to know, that money from this source
was so used during the last session.
Last summer, while attending the
state convention, the writer crossed the
river in company with gentleman who,
was well-known resubmlssion mcmbeN
of the house during the session of 1891.
During a conversation held in palatal
saloon in East Grand Forks, the cx-mein-
Dor said, in answer to question; "Thcse
saloon.keepers are all in favor of prohib.
itlon in North Dakota Look at this
saloon. 1t cost thousands of dollars to
fit ;and ornament 1t. The larger part
of the money expended on it came from
our side of the river. The proprietor of
this place (naming leader of the East
Grand Forks saleon-keepers) lives In
Fargo, and he is personal friend of
nine. But, If should run for the legis>
lature this fall, he and every other East
Grand Forks liquor dealer who lives
across tho river in my district would vote
against me-"
A prominent restaurant keeper in
Grand Forks told the writer that when,
ever there was big political state cons
vention IN Grand Forks most of the sill
yer change gravitated to the east bank.
The republican convention was no excep-
| ton.
The fact is that prohibition is injuring
| the state greatly, and is doing no GOOD
IN any way. Even in sections where
violators of the law are prosecuted there
is an endless round Of expense to the tax
payers; and, the profits of the sale with~
out license being 80 great, no sooner is
one person convicted and sent to jail to
steps IN to take his place.
On the Missouri Slope little effort is
made to enforce the law But we trust
that our fellow citizens in other parts of
the state do not believe that our people
look with favor on open and notorious
disregard of law. They do not. The
present situation is not satisfactory to any
patriotic and upright citizen. We would
much rather have laws that could be en-
forced. There are certain kinds of stat
utes-based on the teachings of the Ten
Commandments = that public opinion
everywhere indorses. The infraction of
! such lawssas punished But. there uIe
other laws that majority of the people
of section-a city or county believe
have been forced upon them, without
justice or right, by the people Of another
and stronger section-by those who have
no call to say that "our belief on ques-
tions of moral ethics shall be your belief"
Such laws are, and always will BE-,
violated. The editor of this paper truly
believes-and he would be hypocrlte If
he denied lt-that the prohibition law is
as unjust and unrighteous as the old
fugitive-slave law; and, 50 believing, he
would do no more for It's enforcement
than the old abOlitlonists and free-soilers
did for the statute that commanded them
to turn out with the bloodhounds and
hunt down human beings who were
struggling to be free. In county where
this sentiment prevails 10 any great ex
tent prosecutions result in public bank
ruptcy, and nothing else.
1t would seem that the people of this
state should be allowed, after several
years trial of the prohibltory law, to
render their verdict as to the results.
With half Of the new evidence that has
been discovered since prohibition became
operative; we are certain that in Grim
inal case Mr.. Pollock would demand a
new trial for his client. There are many
reasons why the question of license
should again be submitted to jury,
and it is strange that men like Mr..
Pollock-noted for fairness in other di-
rections-should wish to deny such sub.
mission.
The Record believes that prohibition,
were it again put to u vote, would be de-
featsd by large majority. The friends
of license would have to fight the liquor
interest on the Minnesota side of the
Red river, and also in most sections the
worst class of blind-piggers. 1t would
be supported by thousands who voted
for prohibition, but who have seen noth-
Ing but evil come as a result of lis pre-
vailinE. 1t would be supported by repu.
table liquor dealers-men who are will.
ing to pay license and to observe laws
which are necessary to regulate the traffic,
and which an unanimous public opinion
would be prompt to sustain.
At present, in many sections of the
state, any Que who can get possession of
4 keg Of forty-rod whiskey and tin
dipper may 60 lnte the liquor busi-
ness. Under license. there we're few sa-
looms; having something at stake. their
proprietors we're more careful about ssll-
ing to minors and habitual drunkards,
and kept their places more orderly; hav.
ing no fear Of seizure, their beverages
were further removed from the poison
point; and, finally, the counties obtained
something with which to lessen their
financial burden in dealing with the re
suits of traffic which ne one oan say is
productive only Of good.