Backbone. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. ;) 1897-1906, 1898-04-01
BACKBONE.
PROHIBITION PARTY NECESSARY.

method of destroying it to send us brief contribu-
tions stating the ground of their objection We have
also written to number of such persons, but have
received only one contribution, that of Rev. c. NJ
Heard, D. D. Two others wrote U.S. courteousy de-
clining to contribute to the symposium.
Or. HEARD's OBJECTIONS.
Dear Brother: Your plan is impracticabe
ing
So long there other issues will be impracticable
to unite majority of voters upon single ISSUE This is
proved the disruption of the Prohibition party
the last presidential election the trouble arising tho
attempt to exclude other issues.
Prohibition if achieved a party victory would
subject the vcsstudes of the party affected by the
caprces of the popular mind manifest in
muntes which change from policy to another at
alternate election.
g. enforce of law is matter of party power
is matter of the personal character Of Of
fcials and the public sentiment back of them.
separate party is not necessary Party leaders are
than ready to follow the lead of the people, They
fairly tumble another in the race for popular
Whenever the majority of the voters within any
ISSUE control the action of that party better
it, than outside. If they minority, they
stronger in the than out of it. The influence of
good where he can direct the ncipient plans of
party leaders for than great number of
political Righteousness.
speak of the motive of self-nterest as means
of promoting official fidelity In this allow the very
nrncipe of political expeiency which keeps great
mar practical
party bring the motive of self-nterest
to bear upon holders is to work within the party
that elected them They have fear OF radical temper
nce voters organized separate party They are afraid
of the saloon it acts Independently within ex
listing party lines refaning from separate political action
C. M. HEARD
We refer to the above by number
l. The history political parties in the United states
shows that every party has on practically
single-issue platform The Prohibition parys failure thus
far to go to power not been due to any attempt 10
majority of voters upon single ISSUE, for until the last
campaien its platforms have embraced greater VI
radical issues those of other party. Inc ae
.disrupion'' caused, not by an attempt u eA e
other issues but almost wholly by the defeat OF the Tree
silver plank, issue which also dlsrup'eu 'ne 0'NO
parties
. cerainlv But a measure is much more likely to be
nshed to when backed by party which
b staad its future upon the that than
when entrusted commttee whose organization press
treasury esprit not worthy to be compared
with those of political parties If party is not necessary
to the and enforcement OF prohbltlo 1t IS not
necessary to of high low tariff silver or gold
of any ssue and that is the case parties should
not be upon principles for the purpose OF affecting
reforms but solely elect to once certain csses VI s's VI
rather than others
3. Not Maine, Kansas, Iowa and the Dakotas have
emphacay for constitutional prohibition,
than and their officials have been as
good as the average. the law is faithfully
enforced been virtually repealed in Iowa by the
party and the liquor forces moving hope
fully on to conquess So far prohibition has
failed, been sacrificed to the exigences of con-
scienceess political party which, seeking above all
things only where has paid to do
good man. nominated and elected by bad party and
looking party for denomination, will on the aver
age opposition to the saloon than would bad
man. candidate of good party and desire
a denomination.
this is true, ought to be able see some SUBJ
results since for each Prohbtionst there
said twenty in the other parties OPP
posed There widespread agitation and in
feeling the saloon question. The churches
the most important pressing
fore people, Party leaders fully cognzant
facts Yet "incpient policy by DR.. Heard
has, given governmental recognition protec
ton the liquor traffic, five kinds Of the White
House, Quay the Republican boss of Pennsylvania
Platt of New York. Gov Tanner in Illinois, Clough
in Minnesota and John Goodnow in Shanghai
defiance Of law by the Republican executives Mnneap
Dal,l -