The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1903-02-04
PROHIBITIONISTS CAN UNITE,
There is No Great Gulf Between
the Two Factions.
Both Are Working to One End, Which
Is the Overthrow of Common
Enemy In the State.

1t seems to be assumed by some,
if one may Judge by number of
recent comments in the papers,
that there is necessarily an irrecon
cilable difference great gulf
fixed between those who advocate
the passage of a State Prohibition
law by the next legislature and
those who favor a prohibition
amendment to the constitution.
The fact that the North Mississip-
pi and the Mississippi Methodist
conferences declared for constitu-
tional prohibition, while large
majority on both these bodies and
others in the State laid special
emphasis on the statutory idea,
has perhaps given rise to the er-
roneous notion above referred to.
The idea of an irreconcilable
difference is altogether imaginary
and has no real ground on which
to rest.
Why do l say this? will give
a few reasons, which | am sure
will not be called in question by
those who have studied the subject
properly. In the first place, both
classes of prohibitionists are work
ing to accomplish the same ulti-
mate object-the permanent de-
struction of the legalized liquor
traffic on every foot of Mississippi
soil. Those who demand statutory
prohibition first, expect to follow
up and clinch the statute law as
soon as possible with constitu-
tional prohibition amendment.
Those who demand the submission
of a constitutional amendment
first, if successful, would have to
have a statute law to enforce the
constitution. If a contention at
all, it is simply one as to which
should be secured first.
Our constitution is now silent
on the liquor question and the
legislature has plenary power
over the question until the con-
stitution is changed. To insure
the passage of a statutory prohibit
ton law, only bare majority of
the members of each house is re-
quired friendly to such legisla-
ton. To secure the submission
of a constitutional amendment to
the people, two-thirds of the mem
bers of each house must give their
assent to the proposition, and the
amendment must pass each house
by such a vote on three several
days. 1t therefore follows that
in either case, the legislature must
be secured. But, as matters
stand, from the legal aspect of the
case, the same legislature can
carry out both ideas, if friendly
one. For instance, suppose the
legislature which is elected this
year and takes it seat in January,
1904, should submit a prohibition
amendment to be voted on at the
general election, which would fol-
low in November for presidential
electors and congressman. The
same legislature could, at the
same session, pass statutory
prohibition law to 60 into effect
on the first of the following Janu-
airy or any other date it might
name. If the constitutional amend
ment carried, there would already
be a statute adopted to make it
effective without having to wait
for another session of the legisIa-
ture, or for the election of another
legislature. If the amendment
should be misunderstanding not
likely in Mississippi-the statute
law passed by the legislature
which submitted the amendment
would stand and remain in effect
nevertheless, until repealed by a
subsequent legislature.
cannot say in advance what
action the State mass meeting on
February 18th will take, but in
view of the law and facts govern
ing the case, if it declares for both
statutory and constitutional pro-
hibition, there will be solid COM
mon ground on which all friends
of prohibition may easily unite.
L. T. FITZHUGH.
Jackson, Miss, Jan. 81, 1903.
The above article from DR..
Fitzhugh strikes the keynote for
unity and harmony of Prohibition
lists in the pending State campaign,
and The Leader heartily endorses
the sentiments and position there
in set forth. 1t points out clearly
basis of union on which all earn
est and sincere opponents of the
liquor traffic should be able to
come together and elect legisla-
ture and Governor friendly to
statutory and constitutional prohi-
bition.
The legal status Of the whole
situation is a very fortunate one
for the prohibitionists. AS mat
tiers stand, the Legislature has all
needed jurisdiction to- submit a
constitutional amendment and also
at the same session to pass a pro-
hibition law covering the whole