The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1905-08-10

Equal Justice For Capital and La
lition Of Traffic In Girls, Among
Principles of Party whose Domi-
nnnt Plank Demands Prohibition
of the Liquor Tr.mc-The PlatfOrm
q Text.
Chicago, Iil.-No party ever labored
under more misconceptions and popu-
lar ignorance regarding its purposes
and plans than has the Prohibition
party, which celebrates the thirty-sixth
anniversary of it's birth in September,
1905.
Popularity known as the "cold water
crowd" the water wagon cranks,"
the fountain fanatics" the lone idea
reformers' and variously dubbed
Missionaries" "'impracticals," "Puri-
tans'' and disciples of Cotton Ma
ther,' the real facts about the Prohibi-
ton party movement and the person
mel of its leaders have until recently
never had much attention from the
newspaper press of the United States.
But events of the past few years have
served to waken a new interest in its
career.
100 Per Cent Gain In Eight Years.
In the last two presidential elections,
instead Of a rapidly diminishing vote,
predicted by politicians who cared lit
tie and knew less about its thorough
state and national organization, the
official figures show that the Prohibi-
ton party has made more than a 100
per cent gain over it's vote in 1896.
In addition nearly 500 Prohibitionists
have been elected on straight Prohibi-
ton party tickets in thirteen different
states. Three Prohibitionists were
elected by their party to the 1905 legls-
lature of Illinois. Venango county,
Pennsylvania, now has nearly 300 Pro
hibition party candidates in office
alone. One Of Ohio's leading munich
palitics now has a Prohibition mayor
elected on a straight party ticket.
In at least forty states and terrific
rics the party is organized and carries
on, more and more aggressively, q con-
tinuous campaign for the principles it
champions. There is no "off year. for
the Prohibitionist. He is preaching
his politics and canvassing for recruits
from the end of n presidential quad
rennium straight through to the next,
and every year, during all the months
when old party spellbinders are tax
ing things "easy," the Prohibition "or-
ganizer'' is hard at it, addressing raj
lies in churches, in halls, in the open
air, in the big cities as we'll as in the
country, under the constant direction
and encouragement of the alert nation
al committee. This committee has its
busy headquarters at $50 The Temple,
Chicago, which is open the year round,
keeping a good sized Office force stead
ily at work with the speakers CORE
spondence and the continual distribu-
ton Of literature to the four ends of
the land. Unlike the two big "old'
parties, the Prohibition national COM
mittee levies no assessments and has
access to no 'spoils Of Office" 1t Is
kept going entirely by the voluntary
contributions Of those who take an in
terest in it's welfare. There is an odd
and frequently pathetic aspect to the
ever open cashbooks Of the committee.
Few m%illionaires are found in the lists,
but there are many n dollar, two
dollar and fifty cent subscriptions re-
corded there from hardworking labor
ing men, widows, young men just be-
ginning business life in humble ways,
and each and every one is "sent in to
help the cause" The national COM
mittee is ably assisted by state COM
mittees.
Inquiry develops the fact that the
Prohibitionists circulate broadcast
throughout the country every year
more than 1000 tons of leaflet and Pc
riodical literature, packed with argu-
ment and information relative to their
party's principles.
The Prohibition party's national vote
in 1904 for Silas G. Swallow for presi-
dent was 25S, 1877 and the state casting
the largest vote was Illinois, with 3d.
TO. Nearly 100 weekly newspapers
Of local, state and national circulation
now heartily support the issues of that
party. Nearly all the church press in
the country are friendly to its domi-
nant principles, and a rapidly increas-
ing number Of Independent papers ed
itorally acknowledge the truth Of its
issues.
The Party's Issues.
What does the Prohibition party
stand for? Here, in brief, Is the ma
tional platform to which 1t is bound
until 1908:
The destruction Of the license system.
the most important question in American
politics.
The enactment and enforcement of avs
prohibiting and abolishing the manufac.
ture, importation, transportation and sale
of alcoholic beverages.