Backbone. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. ;) 1897-1906, 1905-08-01
~ DON'T LIKE TO THROW AWAY
MY VOTE"

LIS luSd plOp0p1y pASNShSNN -
larger number of the radical foes OF
the saloon from allying themselves
with the Prohibition party than has
any other one consideration. Not a
larger number of good men" or OF
Temperance people. Many such are
not deeply stirred by any phase OF the
question which does not concern their
personal welfare or that OF their COM
munity. Others of these classes are
too cowardly to join so small party,
no matter how much they sympa-
thize with it's objects or approve its
methods. We speak rather OF those
who feel deeply upon this issue and
who would willingly put forth earnest
effort and make sacrifices-in many
cases great sacrifices-to see the end
of the saloon. A great number OF
these say-we believe many of them
say honestly-"I don't like to throw
away my VOTE"
An American ballot ought to be
highly valued. 1t cost our forefathers
dearly. 1t is a priceless treasure. 1t
is capable of accomplishing great
things.
"Tt executes a freeman's will
AS lightning does the wrath of God"
1t is to the credit of any American
citizen that he is unwilling to throw
away his vote. None put a higher
value upon the ballot than do voting
Prohibitionists. Not only do they con-
slider it weapon-most of them would
say divinely appointed weapon-for
protecting the nation against it's most
serious menace, but great numbers OF
them look upon it as a means OF en-
throning the Christ through righteous
law Such men, holding such views,
will not willingly throw away this
precious treasure. They cast their
ballot as carefully, as conscientiously,
many of them as prayerfully as they
take into their hands the chalice con-
tanning the emblem of the blood OF
their Lord, shed for SHINING men.
And they vote the Prohibition ticket
expressly because they are not willing
to throw away their vote.
X X
Why do these men, who hold the
ballot in such high esteem, pledge it
to a party which has no immediate
hope of success? Because they I'M
derstand the meaning of ballot; they
KNOW WQdC IL is lOF.
An American ballot has three uses.
The first is to elect to office men
who shall manage the business af-
fairs of the city, county, state and
nation. Does this require that the
enemies of the saloon shall vote with
one of the two old parties? Has either
of those parties a monopoly of business
sagacity or common honesty? Do not
the taxpayers of both of those par
ties love themselves sufficiently to
see to it usually that their affairs are
placed in the hands of trustworthy
business men? But suppose this were
not true. Are there any business in
| terests at stake comparable in i'm
portance with the hundreds OF mil
lions of dollars involved in the con-
tinuance or overthrow of the saloon?
If not, does not business prudence die
tate that each citizen who has caught
glimpse of this tremendous waste
of our resources shall ally himself
with the movement which seeks a
thorough-going remedy of this great
economic wrong rather than eXpend
his civic prerogatives in seeing that
the cents column of public finance is
correctly footed?
X X
A second use of the ballot is to
choose legislators to enact, judges to
interpret and various officials to ex-
ecute laws defining the rights of men
and depressing those wrongs which
law may properly deal with. Which
of the two old parties should be chosen
over the other in order to accomplish
this? Do they not both desire that in
most matters justice shall be done be-
tween man and man? Is there any
question of morals here, so that the
withdrawal of some millions of the
best class of voters-such as they are
who hate the saloon-from a given
party would affect the moral character
| of the LEGISLATION which those who