The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1899-02-10
w. U.
THE BEST POSSIBLE MODE OF RE.
STR. TING THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC
WHERE IT CANNOT BE PRO
HIBITED."

UiDl lEO.
Itis possible legally to prohibit the
liquor traffic where salps cannot be pre-
vented. as in certain parts Of Maine, New
Hampshire Vermont, Iowa, aud Kansas
We have had too many evidences tina
liquor saloons sometimes flourish even
under the ban OF constitutional and
statutory Prohibition. The topic upo
which am to write will therefor
venture to rcstate-the best possbl.
means of restricting the liquor traffic
where Prohibition cannot be enacted an,
made effective.
At the outset, will state that fer forty
years have studied this question, have
written aud spoken upon it, always
contending tor Prohibition, and never
falterng. I lstill bellve Prohibition to be
morally and iudicially right, and the best
! policy where it can be obtained aud fairly
well enforced.
have often met the alternatives: what
can we do where we cannot get Prohibit
ton? am unable to see the wisdom Of
some good men and women who can think
and talk Of nothing but Prohibition. and
scouting every other measure, stand
still with arms folded in dgnifed con-
tempt for practical workers on other lines.
They plead that. in conscience, they
cannot favor any other policy. because it
would make them particeps criminis in
some kind of actural or quasiindorsement
Of the drink evil They attempt to fortify
their position with the theory that Ito
license the liquor traffic is a sin"
l admit. if the whole responsibility of
deciding how the drink traffic should be
legally treated rested upon me alone it,,
would be q sin for me to license it, We
have States and municipalities in which.
by large majorities, another line Of policy
has been determined and fixed, because
the major sentiment is far from prohibit
tory And this condition of sentiment is
likly to continue in many places for many
wears Under such circumstances
cannot see how it is sin for me to join
with other citizens and get the best result
possible out of some ronprohIbitory
regimen even though it be a license sys-
tenn. | do not cease So advocate Prohibi-
ton. but it is clear beyond doubt that
some lower line ofaction must be pursued
for a long time before the State can be
lifted to this my ideal standard.
Now that I must live under system
thnt is unwelcomc and repulsiye TO my
ideals. shall not join with those who try
to get some benefit from it, and test it tc
hr uttrrmost until better scheme can
De obtained? No other course seems &c
me- wise and consistent In acting the
part Of citizens under the free institu
tous Of popular sovereignty, in contract
and mutual action with many peonle Of
. diverse views, how many are the instances
in which we share with others i'm complies
action upon matters which are far below
our standards. 1t Is SO with most Of tn,
legislation.
In many Of the United State Prohibi
tion is wholly out Of the question, auc
, must remain so for many years tc come
> In such States what is the best mode o.
res,ri.tug and mcasurably diminishing
? The liquor traffic:
l. Would recommend the ordinary
q. license system as commonly known anC
understood would not, for it has neve
baen demonstrated that it has restricted