The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-16

Soamuel L. Howe. who was for two
terms state treasurer of Kansas and is
now president of one of the largest
banks in Topeka. The article is quite
lengthy and I quote only the most sal
lent features:
Temperance, as defined, denotes
moderation in the indulgence of all
natural appetites and passions, and
has always been counted one of the
cardinal virtues. While by modern
usage it has not lost its general sig
nltlcance, yet it has come to be con-
sldered more particularly in relation
TO the use of strong drink, and has al
most become. synonym for anti-alco-
hoilsm, total abstinence, and the like.
Ihis gradual popular restriction of the
term, and its antonym intemperance,
70 the use of Intoxicating liquors. in
dlcates that in the public mind modera-
ton in the indulgence of that appetite
IS of supreme Importance. No other
question is of such deep concern to the
family and to society.
1T is admitted by the friends of
prohibition that if the evils recited af
fected only Incorporate persons, the
right of the state to interfere would be
questionable; but it is certain that
every one of them has, more or less,
direct bearing upon public interests,
and they are, therefore, properly sub
3ects of governmental concern, and the
public have a right to demand such
legislation as will extirpate the cause.
If such "a thing be possible"
Another argument made against pro-
hibition is the loss to the state of the
revenue which would be derived under
license system--as if the public con-
science were to be bartered for dollars
and cents. The argument is really too
contemplate to deserve attention; but
let US think of it moment. The cof-
fers Of the state to be enriched by the
hard-earned wages of the poor victim
Of the drink habit, for upon him rests
the burden of the license tax And
in that connection there inevitably
come to us thoughts of care-worn wife
and mother, in scanty attire, and the
hungry and ill-ciad but innocent chill
dren. VIII the people of Kansas toll
crate such an argument? The question
may be safely answered in the mega
tive.
In considering the results of profli-
bition, necessary brevity limits the
discussion to Kansas. The adoption of
the prohibitory amendment in Novem-
Der. 1880, was productive for years of a
tentative experience; and it was not
until 1885 that the laws were so per-
fected as to bring the desired results.
From that year dates the successful
working of the law. By successful
working is not meant complete en-
forcement, fer in the nature of things
no such result can be expected any
more than can complete enforcement
of the law against crime. When the
violation of any law, either human or
divine, entirely ceases, the millennium
will be almost here. What is meant by
successful working is that the law
from 1885 to the close of 1892 constantly
operated to reduce the quantity of
liquors sold.
AS to the effect of intemperance, or
perhaps it would better be said of the
liquor traffic which is maintained by
intemperance, upon the politics of the
country, it is not necessary to say
much, for every thinking citizen has
knowledge thereof. The INSCRIPTIONS
ness of liquor dealers everywhere, and
their corrupting influence upon poll
tics, are proverbial. The persistence
with which they wage their degrading
warfare has been well illustrated in
Kansas
That the effect of intemperance upon
morals is bad, would be- testified to
aff1rmatively by every observing citi-
zen who is honest. In addition to be-
ing a vice itself, it is a constant factor
in the production of crime. The per
cent. of crime caused directly by the
which it is auxiliary, is nsver placed
below sixty, and often as high as
seventy-five The influence of immoral
ity resulting from intemperance and
the liquor traffic is not confined to the
circle Of victims of strong drink. but is
diffused throughout society and the
body polite. with contamination to
everything it touches.
The only complete remedy for these
evils is a removal of their cause and
it is indisputable that this can only be
accomplished by prohibiting the sale
of liquor as a beverage. 1t is only in
recent years that the principle of pro-
hibition has received much considera-
ton from the public. Previous TO its
formulation into law in certain states.
regulation or restriction, and moral
suasion, were depended upon to check
the rapid spread of intemperance, but
were found to be inadequate and it
became necessary to seek more 'effec-
tive measures, and the idea Il legally
prohibiting the sale of liquors was
conceived.
The Brewers Journal Of New York
City, in 1891 published a table of sta
tistics in which it was shown that in
1886 there were sod in Kansas 1882
barrels of malt liquors. In 1892, by the
same authority. the sales has de-
creased to 1,64S barrels, which was a
reduction of 80 per cent. In 1893 there
were 2.677 barrels sold, an increase
over 1892 of ,034 barrels, or SO per cent.
CThe voice of the people at the late
election was heard none too soon.)
During the same period in Nebraska,
rider a license system, the sales Of
7-.aft liquors increased from S4S3S bar
rels in 1886 to 156. 457 barrels in 1893. an
increase Of 81 40 per cent. Contrast
the records. a decrease in Kansas of
"a CLIO per cent, and an increa in
Nebraska during the same per cd of
81 4-10 per cent. And it should be re-
membered that this is the testimony
Of the metropolitan organ of the LIQUOR
traffic. Surely this alone is sufficient
to show the effectiveness of rroh bition
in lessening the evils complained Of 1t
is claimed by opponents of prohibition
that the decrease in the sale OF malt
liquors has been at the expense of an
increase in the sale of distilled spirits.
Let US see about it. There are no ex-
act statistics upon this point. but
"straws show which way the wind
blows" According to the internal
revenue reports, Kansas in $50 con
tributed to the total collections from
the manufacture and sale of spirituous
liquors in the United States, Il 34-1OO
per cent. In 1891 the contribution was
only 74-lO0 per cent. In 1890, which is
the last year for which figures are at
hand. Kansas contributed to the co..
lections above named only cents per
capita; Nebraska Gncluding North and
South Dakota), s1.79 per capita
The logical conclusion is, that the
decrease in the sale of distilled spirits
in Kansas has almost, if not quite. kept
pace with that of other liquors.
GEO. F. GOODWIN.
Salt Lake City, March Il, 1895.
Are You Ever Annoyed.