Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-07-28
The Best Reform

The following platform was a.
dopted at the recent convention of
the national Prohibition party.
As The Press understands the
money question, it believes the
gold standard to be the settled pol
icy of the government of this coun-
try, and the one that is for the best
interests of all concerned.
The next most important issue is
that of the tariff. The present at
titude of the two old parties is to
keep fighting over it at every
Presidential campaign. We be-
lieve this to BE harmful to the bust
ness interests of the country,-far
more SO than any question of gold
or silver standard. We believe
the Prohibition party has hit on
the right way to settle it.
The Prohibition Party in National convention
assembled, at indianapolis June 30, 1904, recog-
nzng that the chief end of all government is
the establishment of those principles of right
eousness and justice that have been revealed to
men as the will of the Everything God. desiring
His blessing upon national life, and believing
in the perpetuation Of the high ideals of govern
ment of the people, by the people and for the
people, established by the fathers, makes the
following declaration of principles and pur-
poses.
l.. The widely prevailing system of the licens-
cd and legalizcd sale Of alcoholic beverages is so
ruinpns Of individual interests, so inimical to
pubic welfare so destructive to national wealth,
and SO subversivc of the rights OF great masses of
our citizenship, that the destruction of the traffic
is, and has been, the most important question in
American politics.
2. We denOunce the lack Of statesr. anship ex-
hibted by the leaders of the Democratic and
Republican party in their refusal to recognize
the paramount Importance of this question and
the cowardice with which the leaders OF these
parties have cOurted the favor of those whose
selfish interests are advanced by the confirmation
and augmentation of the traffic, until today the
influence Of the liquor traffic practically domi-
mates. national. state and local government
throughout the nation.
3. We declare the truth, demonstrated by the
experience of half y century, that all methods of
dealing with the liquor traffic which recognize its
right TO exist, in any form, under any system OF
license or tax or regulation, have proved power
less to remove IFS evils, and useless as checks
upon its growth, while the insignihcant public
revenue which have accrued thercfrom have
rndf f1,o,, mil 1fo
ton of its iniquity
4. We Call public attention to the fact, proved
by the experience of more than fifty years. that
to secure the enactment and enforcement of pro-
hbitory legislation, in which alone lies the hope
of the protection Of the people from the liquor
traffic. 1t is necessary that the legislative, exec,-
tive and judicial branches Of the government,
should me in the hands of political party in har-
mony with the Prohibition principle, and pledged
to its embodiment in law and to the execution OF
those laws.
). We pledge the Prohibition party wherever
given power by the sutfrages Of the people, to the
enactment and enforcement of laws prohibiting
and ahOlishing the manufacture, importation
transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages.
6. We declare that there is not only no other
issue Of equal Importance before the American
people today. but tina. the socalled issues upon
wlic,, tie Democratic and Republican par,ic,
seek TO divide the electorate OF The country are
ii, large part. subteringes Under the cover Of
which they wranelc FOR the sRoils of ofIlce
I. Recognizing that the Intelligent voters o
the country may properly ak nur attitude upor
otter questions of public ccncern, We decar.
ourselves in favor or
The impartial enforcement Of all Law.
The safeguarding Of the peoples rights by
rigid application of lie. principles Of Justice tt
all combinations of labor and capital,
Thefscogn,tion Of the fac, that the right o
suffrage should DEPEND. upon the .aental an,
moral ,i!ualitcatio,iai Of Its citizens.
irc.e intimate relation between the recp
AMI goresnment ,4y a: wise application Of .h
principle Of the initisaye and referendum.