The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1904-12-03

Benefit of Anti-Saioon Law.
Some time ago Judge Charles A. Pol
.ock of the Third judicial district Of
North Dakota received a letter from
prominent citizen of Mississippi, in
which state the question of statewide
anti-saloon laws was being discussed,
asking him for information as to the
results in North Dakota. The in
quiries covered the following points:
Measure Of enforcement; effect on
the moral welfare Of the people, and
especially of the rising generation;
effect on crime; general sentiment Of
the people concerning a retention Of
The law"
There being no regular official chan
mel for procurement of statistics IN
his state, Judge Pollock sp sated the
Inquiries of his Mississippi Drrespond-
ent to number of leading officials
and prominent citizens Of North Da-
kota, receiving their replies.
United States Senator Henry G.
Hansborough of Devils Lake said he
was thoroughly convinced that the
abolition of the open saloon had done
wonderful work from the standpoints
of morality and economy for the peo-
pie of the state. He declared that he
did not believe the people of North
Dakota, if given opportunity to vote on
the question, would ever favor the re-
turn of the saloon.
Congressman B. F. Spaulding of
Fargo said the law had improved the
moral welfare of the people He esti-
mated that in the eastern part of the
state the consumption did not exceed
one-fourth Of what it was before pro-
hibition was enacted. 1t had lessened
crime
Ex-Congressman M. N. Johnson Of
Petersburg said that next to the great
educational endowment of the state
amounting to about $500O0,O00) he
considered its anti-saloon law the most
valuable asset of North Dakota, and
concluded; THE people of the state
are more emphatic than ever in favor
of prohibition"
The judges we're appealed to. JUS
tice Newman c. Young, Fargo, mem
Der Of the supreme court, said the law
had brought better class Of officers
in township, village, city, county and
state, and better local governments
had resulted; for twelve years the
boys Of the state had been free from
the pernicious influence, the profanity,
vulgarity and criminality Of the open
saloon, and that in the counties east
Of the Missouri river crime had
been reduced to one-ffth Of what it
was before. He believed If the ques-
ton was voted on again rs per cent OF
the voters would favor it.
Judge Charles J. Fisk, Grand Forks,
judge Of the First district, although
not an advocate Of the law, preferring
the handling Of the liquor question by
township local option, admitted that
the criminal calendar in both counties
of his district was lighter than it was
before the law went into effect.
Judge w. S. Lauder, Wahpeton.
speaking for the Fourth district, said
crime had greatly decreased and the
effect on the moral welfare Of the peo
pie was good. II the question were
put to a vote there would be a large
majority in favor Of retaining the law
Judge w H. Winchester, Bismarck
said that the effect of the law was
good where the law was fairly well
enforced; and Judge w. j. Kneeshaw
Of Pembina said: The law has had an
excellent moral effect on the communi
ty and especially upon the rising gen,
Grafton, and has had a wonderful eff
feet for the prevention of crime"
George B. Winship, editor of the
Grand Forks Herald. said that the
morals of the people had improved un
der the action of the law. ''The bene
fetal effect upon the rising genera
ton cannot be estimated. Theirs are
thousands of children in this state who
have never seen a saloon or public
drinking place. Crime has materiall,
lessened in the past decade. Publ,
sentiment is certainly three to one il
favor of the retention Of the law"
Mayor A. W. Edwards. the well
known Fargo editor. said that he dis
not vote for the clause at the time O.
the adoption of the state constitution
because he thought that the build
ings occupied by Fargos fifty licensed
saloons would be empty and HI
thought the city would be injured b,
, their being forced out of business. An
ti-saloon ideas prevailed, however; tn,
buildings vacated by the saloonisti
became creditable emporiums O
trade, Fargo became a home-like cit,
to live in and one in which the viii
OF the people is enforced as near per
fectly as it is possible for humanit,
to walk in straight line. The people
were benefited and Mayor Edward
concluded: North Dakota is. beyonl
question, in favor of the law-and s.
an I-because it's right"
The Army canteen.
To the FditOr-There are two nofnt