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

democratic party snould champion the cause OF anti
monopoly.
special election has been held in Rhode Island
for the purpose of approving rejecting the revised
constitution prepared by the constitution commits
sion Only 1649 voters cared to express themselves
this important question, while the total vote for
governor last April was 43229. This fact should in
those who think the initiative and referendum
is the summum bonum of reform.
According to official returns there 466 bootleg
gers in the District of Columbia. The prohibitory
law of Alaska is repealed because it cannot be en-
forced Yet according to the last report Of the col
lector of internal revenue there 37S unlicensed
retail liquor dealers in that territory just SO less
than there in the city of Washington under Ii
cense. Why not repeal the license laws Of the Dis
trict of Columbia?
We sometimes hear it said that What the Prohi-
bition movement needs is a leader" Where are the
bishops, orators editors and leading layme1 of the
church? Do they not know of the evil being
wrought by the saloon? Are not OF the most
bitter philippines 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?
There is at least prominent Methodist whose
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 cover 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
rade in the carriage of Capt Fred Pabst the famous
brewer. He is reported, hope incorrectly as hay
ing put himself record while in Milwaukee, ia
voring the liquor traffic It is also stated that he
said: "This is the jollest fun had, and I
would like to stay here and go a 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 well ito indulge
publicly in such expressions. We inclined to
think the journalistic friends of the brewers put the
quoted words into Teddys mouth If not perhaps
he has been studying the 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 as greatly elated.
AS the League favors effort looking the election of
good men in bad parties, let it turn its 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
that 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 or mains large numbers of people,
One Chicago paper chronicled thirty-(ive deaths
which took place the Fourth this year from ex-
plosives. Only one paper so far as we have seen
has advised general movement in favor of volun-
tary abstinence from the of these deadly toys
This is the remarkable since most of these jour
nails oppose the prohibition of the liquor traffic,
many of them holding that the attempt to suppress
the saloon only aggravates the evil
South Boston, Va June 1S, 1899.
Publishers Backbone,