Backbone. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. ;) 1897-1906, 1899-07-01
BACKBONE.
Democratic party should champion the of anti

Democratic party should champion the cause of anti
monopoly
A special election has been held in Rhode Island
for the purpose of approving rejecting the revised
| constitution prepared by the constitution commits
sion Only 16849 voters cared to express themselves
this important question: while the total vote for
governor last April was 1929 This fact should in
terest those who think the initiative and referendum
is the summum bonum of reform.
According to official returns there are 466 bootleg
gers in the District of Columbia. The prohibitory
law of Alaska is repealed because it cannot be
forced Yet according Ito the last report Of the col
lector of internal revenue there are 373 unlicensed
retail liquor dealers in that territory just SO less
than there were in the city of Washington under Ii
cense. Why repeal the license laws CT the Dis
trict of Columbia?
We sometimes hear it said that "What the prohi-
bition movement needs is leader" Where are the
bishops, orators, editors and leading laymea of the
church? Do they not know of the evil being
wrought by the saloon? Are not some OF the most
bitter phiippics against the monster the product Of
their tongues and pens? Is not aggressive warfare
against such institutions the saloon the big end of
their job? Why do not our leaders lead?
head has not been turned by the election Of Metho
dist to the White House. 1t is Bishop Fitzgerald,
who says *The great advantage of the opinion is
to make for the administration. Again the
party in power may say, Anxious, but unable to
suppress the evil
The prediction implied in the last sentence has al
ready been realized
Governor Roosevelt led the Milwaukee flower pa
/ do in
brewer. He is reported, hope incorrectly, hay
ing put himself on record while in Milwaukee, as ia
voring the liquor traffic 1t is also stated that he
said: "This is the jolliest fun 1 had and I
would like to stay here and go bender"
The Indianapolis News one of his most ardent sup
porters says: "The country has it's eye upon you,
and warns him that it may not be we'll to indulge
publicly in such expressions We are inclined to
think the journalistic friends of the brewers put the
quoted words into Teddys mouth. If not perhaps
he has been studying the success which has ATTENDED
the efforts of the present occupant of the White
House to swing both bishops and brewers into line
for his support
Ex-Mayor Caldwell of Cincinnati attorney for the
Cincinnati Liquor League, is the Republican candi-
date for lieutenant governor of Ohio. The national
organ of the AntiSaoon League is greatly incensed
thereat while the liquor press is greatly elated.
AS the League favors effort looking to the election of
good men in bad parties, let it turn it's guns on
Mayor Caldwell. The result will he watched with
interest by all who seeking the best means of
overthrowing the saloon. It's dollars to doughnuts
chat the liquor champion will lead the ticket
There is "a growing sentiment in favor of more
reasonable celebration of national birthday than
that which kills mains large numbers of people.
One Chicago paper chronicled thirty-lve deaths
which took place on the Fourth this year from ex-
plosves. Only paper, far have SEEM
has advised general movement in favor of volun-
tary abstinence from the of these deadly toys.
This is the remarkable since of these jour