The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-04-17
AN ECONOMIC QUESTION
Judge Pollock Discussed Prohibition
from an Economic Basis on
Wednesday Evening.

HrfIL -Hfo51t-a TEsNNGE tEAZE2 'kggHR $500
from an Economic Basis on
Wednesday Evening.
Judge Charles N. Pollock. Of Far
go, N. D., delivered an address at the
Grand opera house Wednesday even
ing in behalf of the prohibitionisUs
of this city. The lower part of the
house was reserved for the, voters OF
the city, and it was quite well filed,
there being at least 800 in the audi
ence. The gallery was reserved to
the ladies and there was a good
representation on the second floor.
On the stage were Revs. T. H.
Youngman, Fred Il. Drewett. A. r.
Carhart, ID. r. Tomlin and Presiding
Elder Haeer, who introduced Judge
Pollock to the audience. Judge
Pollok, who presides owe the cir
cult court in Fargo, has given the
question Of prohibition considerable
study from an economic standpoint
as to how its workings benefit a town
or state. and his deductions were
strongly in sympathy Of prohibition
acting for the good and up%building
Of any community. He did not want
to be regarded as speaking solely on
the temperance question, but,
rather, from a business point of
view, believing this to be the best
method of attacking the saloon. He
said that Americans poured s345, 0Oo,-
600 worth Of liquor into their stom-
achs through the efforts Of 100000
liquor vendors in the country.
Science, he said, teaches us that
liquor has no useful service among
mankind, but, rather; deRrades the
citizenship Of the country and
5depletes the public funds, and he
wanted to know il 1t vas good policy
of business to continue the recogni-
ton Of an evil that had such an
effect on the public welfare. He re-
ferred to the grocery store Of rs or 100
years ago, which had its barrel of
whiskey in n corner OF the room
from which the liquor was sold by
the glass or drink, and how'll had
been superseded by the present day
American saloon, which, in It's. many
intricate.w ways of reaching after busi-
ness, formed a gigantic trust. He
stated that no person. according to
the constitution, had the Inherent.
right to traffic in the appetite and
passions Of men, andswith this ever.
in view the people OF the country
are confronted with a mighty eco
nomic question. The men engaged in
1t, paying as large an amount of
revenue into the government as they
do, necessarily makes of it a question
of great moment, just as much as
any political question, and one that
must be settled and settled right.
Judge Pollock said that In looking
at the proposition there were but
two sides to the discussion, and he
wanted to state them that he might.
be perfectly fair, and that he
might stand on a proposition which
was perfectly fair oboth sides. He
stated his proposition as to which is
the best system-license O prohibit
tion-of reducing the minimum sale
OF Intoxicating liquors as a bever.
age. He admitted that the burden
of proof would be on him and he
argued his case in the form Of a COURT
room ARGUMENT, leaving the voters In
the audience to be judges, when they
lcenld express their opinion al torthe
right or wrong view on election day
lin this city. He declared by the sale
of Intoxicating liquors the state was
teing disturbed, thatits pepole were
being debauched, and that as q
commonwealth it has a right to pro.
tect itself and stop the sale. and it
has a right to remove the power
of temptation from the pathway
OF its citizens. The Judge admit
ted that prohibition cannot prohibit,
SO long as the Interstate com,
meIce law was in effect, Tor thi,
permitted liquor to be shipped il
by the public carriers and il
could not be stopped until that Law
was repealed. He declared that, il
was a good deal better if our wives
and daughters did not have to com,
IN contact with what is thrown ou1
of the frontsdoor of the saloon. H,
Lad heard since coming to Mitchell
that the saloons here were conducte,
closely along the lines Of the law
anu that there was little room TO
complaint, but he feared th t5th'
time would come when the saloon
keepers would become stronger AM
rise in their power to dominate th
politics Of a community, and wle!
III fbat fin,o 40 M q Sba cnid rbo ,no,I