Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-04-03
Doe. Prohibition Prohibit.


The men who have charge of the cam
paign for the Business Mems ticket have
narrowed down their arguments to the
single cry that prohibition does not pro-
hibit." and you can't enforce the law"
To substantiate this claim two unsigned
letters appeared in the Tribune last week
ard the Gazette has repeatedly made
statements OF similar character. A few
unthnking people may be influenced by
such statements as these or they would
not be worth attention. The question is a
very simple one and resolves itself into a
few propositions that may be mentioned;
!. When the state passed the present
laws providing that the electors of any
city might say whether or not they pre-
ferred TO license the liquor business. the
state provided ample protection for the
council of any city deciding on local pro-
hibition. Few states have any better
laws concerning the liquor business than
Colorado and under the statutes the
business can be utterly stopped and is in
many places. We have yet TO hear Of
any proof TO the contrary from Greeley.
Fort Collins and many other places. /,
can be made as effective in Rocky Ford
as in any Of these places.
2. This being the case then the whole
question Of the enforcement Of the law is
one Of administration. One or two towns
in Kansas and illinois are cited. II the
facts stated are true. which may be ad-
mitted for the sake Of argument. the rea-
son is only that officers are elected who
are not in sympathy with the law and OF
course do not make any. or but the most
feeble attempts to enforce it
1t seems strange that our license friends
have not told US OF violations OF the law
in Hoopston. Fisher. Princeton. Monmouth.
Larehland and many other dry" towns
in illinois. Why have not tho facts been
given concerning Hutchinson. Eureka.
Emporia, Lawrence. Ottawa, Peabody.
Ellsworth. lola, Mcpherson. Abeline. Gar
nett, Kansas. The writer mentions the
above towns because Of personal knowl-
edge Of every ono. In these places and
many others tho law Is absolutely en-
forced and there Is never any question
about Il.
Two years ago young man 81 years
old. from Hutchinson. Kan. came 70
Rocky Ford. Until no came here he had
never seen the inside OF saloon. but he
was made acquainted with ono hero be-
fore no had been in the place twelve
hours.
Wherever you find prohibitory law
violated. you find an official who is in
favor Of tho violation.
To vote on the simple question Of license
or no-lieense and ihen elect sot Of mon
who arc not In favor Of tho law Is tho
height Of absufdi,y. This Is Just tho rsa-
son why ,ha No-Lieense people have
selected tho bes, and most reliable busi-
moss mon OF tho town 10 administer It's
affairs.
Two years ago Just as strong q plat
form as the ono presented by tho "5usi-
moss Mon" this year was adopted by the
mon who have had a majority in tho
council ever since. Tho saloonkecpers
eame voluntarily before tho council and
made promises Just as shoy had done oo-
ioro that Since ,ha, tifne every promise
has boon broken repeatedly. Tho nor
who declared themselves as fasofing tho
enforcement o. tho law have boon ir
power. having a majority vote in tbs
council. and yo; ,hey have made almos,
no attempts 10 enforce tho law. while
some Of thsm have granted tho saloon
keepers special Indulgence in violation o.
tho law.
Tho No-Lieense party has nominated
mon who arc withoa, exception in favor
Of tho prohibition Of tho business in Rocky
Ford and u elected will SEQ ,ha, tho law
10 enforced.