Backbone. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. ;) 1897-1906, 1898-12-01
BACKBONE

j r. A. Hawley, nominee Of the Liberty Party
for governor of Nebraska, withdrew in favor OF
the Populist nominee, because the later believed
In direct legislation. The liquor interests quietly
supported Poynten aud are rejoicing over his
election.
ex-governor st. John recently declared that he
had never yet voted Democratic or Populi.t
ticket and that he lie he will never again vote
the Republican ticket This fall he supported
Senator PETER, Prohibition candidate for Govern
or of Kansas.
The seventh International Congress againstthe
abuse of intoxicating liqnors will take place at
Paris, April 40, 1899. This Will be the ret time
that total abstinence or prohibition has ever been
introduced into French Congress by French
men,
| We stated in the November number that we en-
closed q bill therein to all who owed us. We did
not do so, however. In our hurry to get the issue
to our subscribers before election, we were com.
PEELED to withhold several hundred bills They
accompany this number.
The National Temperance League of Japan has
been organized at Toxic with some of the FORE
most politicians and officials of Japan as leaders
OF the moAement. This organization is an ANAL
gamstion of the various temperance organizations
which were in existence
The Supreme Court of Illinois has sustained
the decision of the lower court that the ordinance
passed by the Chicago city council, impos ing
fee OF 500 year on all dealers who wish to sell
cigarettes and prohibiting the sale within 800 fest
of school house ia valid.
A ten year old Indiana boy shot and killed
five year old companion. Some light may be
thrown on the horrible event by the fact that
the youthful murderer is the son of saloonkeep-
or and therefore accustomed to the sight of fire.
arms and to company aud conversation calculat-
ed to fit him for the terrible deed The bartender
is suspected of being accomplice in the murder.
The managers of the great Canadian railways
seven in number, In reply to letter asking them
II they considered the drinking habits of appli
cants for positions, and what rules, if any, they
had regarding the drink practices of men alread
employed" state positively that they will not en-
ploy man who drinks Or retain an old employee
who ofends against this rule.
BY unanimous vote, the judiciary committee
has recommended to the Chicago city Council for
passage Alderman Francis ordinance prohibiting
from being established in strictly residence
Districts, except majority of the residents of the
BLOCK give consent. Ths measure also prohibits
the establishing of saloon within $50 feet of any
church or school,
The city of Montreal gave majority of about
oooOagainst prohibition, but this was not because
1t did not need the reform bad enough. The city
recorder has made report upon the moral condl-
ton OF the city, showing that liquor is the cause
OF nearly all the crimes for which 5000 people
were convicted during twelve months past, enough
crimes to equal the majority
The annual eport of the U. s. Commissioner
OF internal Revenue shows that the estimate ed
revenue for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1898,
$l55 100000, was exceeded by SIS 1866, Sl9 This is
the largest sum ever received by the depa t.
ment In one year. But next year this will again
be largely exceeded, the commissioners estimate
being $4,000 1000 This is of course owing to the
new war revenue measure.
Ihree voters pledges are being circulated in
Missouri The first pledges the signers to sup
port the Prohibition rarty, the second to support
only such men as will put themselves publicly on
record against the liquor traffic and in favor of en-
forcing etrictly all laws enacted in regard to the
same; while the third pledges the signer to stay
out OF the primaries and conventions and hold
himself freeto vote for clean men only.
The following portions of Canada are already
nnder prohibition: Sixteen of the IS counties of
Nova Scotia; 8 of the ID counties OF New Bruins.
wick; all of Prince Edward Island, except the
city OF Charlottetown; more than one third of the
provinces of Quebec: 70 municipalities of onta-
rio; three fourths Of the provinces of Manitoba:
nearly all of the Northwestern Territories, and
considerable portion Of British Columbia.
The direct Legislation plan which has been
made part of the constitution of South Dakota.