Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-04-12
THE WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
PROHIBITION IN THIS STATE.

1
Mayor Leistikow of Grafton, in as
suming his office, made an address to
the city council, and touched on the
prohibition question as it affects the
cities and towns in this state as fol-
lows:
II will take quite a few moments of
your time regarding our s~o-called pro-
1ibition law. To a very large extent
in this state, and also in our city, it
has proven a very convenient law; it
has furnished the prohibitionist his
prohibition law and the drinker with
all the drinks he desired. The insti-
tuition known as a "blind pig which
seems to exist and prosper, not only
in this city but in nine out of ten cities
and villages all over this state, is in
deed a very degrading place. 1t pulls
men down faster to wreck and ruin
than any place I have ever seen in any
civilized country. It should be abol-
ished for good and forever, either by
enforcement of the present law or by
its repeal. The enforcement, Or non
enforcement, of this so-called prohibit
ton law has been the bone of conten-
ton at nearly every city election in
this and other cities of the state. 1t
should not be so-it is the law of this
state and should be enforced as much
las any other law in existence. II it is
a bad law it should be repealed. Per-
sonally l ann fully satisfied that this
particular law has not reduced, min
imized or removed the excessive use Of
liquor to the extent that its authors
expected and hoped for. The reasons
for this, I believe, are many. Above
all, i believe sincerely, that less than
ten per cent of the voters that placed
that law in our constitution have in
their. every day life practiced prohibit
ton. This has removed the moral
support needed for it's enforcement.
Further, I believe it to be almost i'm
T"Q0SSlUlS ~ Il0hC IN OA1uAIAoAAASIo ~
law. Il am satisfied and convinced
from my experience with men that
moral persuasion and education are
necessary to reform the habitual drink
Ell, and I believe if the so-called En-
forcement League, instead of employ
ing Inscriptions men who have used
= this law for the purpose of extorting
and making money for themselves,
would expand and extend these efforts
IN that direction, more would be ac-
compIished for the good of mankind,
ard in time temperance, if not absolute
prohibition, would be the result. All
observing men recognize the great
havoc and evil that results from drink,
/ 4 large percentage of our young men
u wreck their lives yearly as a result OF
excessive drink. Much could be said
upon this subject; it is OF great inn
portance and it should be intelligently
solved. + From observations and in
formation obtained in travel in this
and foreign countries, / am convinced
We have in this country a larger per.
centage of excessive drinkers than any
other country except Russia, in spite
of the fact. that we have a larger per,
centage of total abstainers. / believe
that the main roots of this great evi
and state OF affairs lis the American
saloon OR bar system and the treating
habit or custom, neither of which car
be found anywhere except in America
Both could easily be removed by in
teliigent legislation, and the largest
share of the temperance question would