Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-02-15
lican party" exhibited on all occasions.
The republican party will live long after
lone in the ranks" has learned the true
definition Of the word s'sheol."
WHY NOT BE REASONABLE?

WHY NOT BE REASONABLE?
Representative Simpson, leader of the
resubmiesion forces in the house, made
a gallant fight Saturday, but the oppo.
sition was too strong for him. The pro-.
hibs had planned a little battle them
selves and had the numerical strength to
push the fight. Mr.. Simpson and his
followers We're outnumbered, but not
outgeneraled. 1t is likely that befure
Saturdays journal is approved tomor-
row there'll be another and a final
struggle. It seems certain that among
air-minded and unprej udiced memb RS
the resubmissionists lost nothing in yes.
terday's skirmish. That is, numerically
speaking. It would have been but fair
submission resolution to be discussed on
it's merits and voted upon by a full
house. It is such tactics as these that
intensity opposition to the prohibition
law. The fact that the prohibition
article in the constitution did not re-
ceive the sanction of a majority of all
the voters in the state explains very
completely the reasons for the present
disregard of the law.
A law to be enforced must be backed
by the honest and earnest sentiment of
the majority of the people. Juet so long
as this feeling exists-and it will certainly
exist until the people have another
chance to vote independently and d.
rectly on this questionable present pro-
hibition farce will DO continued. It is
possible, IN fact probable, that in the
event of another and stronger afirma-
tive vote on prohibition the law might
thereafter, under the benign influence of
hearty public favor, born of that true
American sentiment of majority rule-it
is possible that under such conditions
the law might be rigidly enforced in 10.
~calities where now the law is held in
contempt.
After all these years of trial. consid-
Grafton of the circumstances surround
ing the adoption of the prohibition arti-
Gle in the first place, the present wide
spread feeling in favor Of more practical
and effectual control of the liquor traffic
in view of all the circumstances it would
seem that eve the rankest and most
conscientious prohibition1st ought not to
object to a vote of the whole people on
this question. Prohibit,onists may rest
assured that should the prohibition arti-
Gle be voted out of the constitution no
law could or would be enacted that
would be more Intellectual in it's ecour-
agement of temperance and sobriety then
the present ukase. Prohibition counties
all those districts where the sentiment is
in favor of prohibltion-can have abso-
lutte prohibition under a strict high
license local option law. Wherever the
sentiment is strong enough to enforce
the prohibition law now there would be
10 change with a license system. Where
the majority Of the people oppose the
saloon the liquor traffic in any form will
be done away With. Dickey, Sargent or
any other county can have absolute pro-
hlbition under a license law if they
desire it.
AS reasonable and fair men prohibi-
t~ionists ought not to oppose resubmis-
sion. They should favor it and then, by
earnest efforts, endeavor in the cleo
tons to so shape the result as to unarm
their present adversaries aud forever set
at rest this question. There is but little
difference in human nature and the pro-
hibitionist must not be so blind as to
believe that he is more honest in his con-
v~ictions than his opponent, the resub-
missionist. The average resubmissionist
is unquestionably more practical than
the average prohibltionist and not a
small percentage of them are anxious
for a much better and more efectual
regulation of the liquor traffic than now
exists in this state and that always will
exist under the present law and condi-
ton of public sentiment.