The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1907-12-19
Mr.. C0WHERD'S
RECENT INTERVIEW.
II is Worth Several Re.Readings
BY All MIssourians.

gressman William S. Cowherd Is as
suming as a candidate for governor
renders his recent interview with the
SIS. Louis Republic sufficiently inter
esting to be kept before the people
OF the state until the time when his
position will be more fully detailed
In his campaign speeches. Hs said:
at Is too early for either party
or candidate TO be making polit'
ical platform. Issues arise and die
very frequently within the space OF
time that lies between now and next
August.
II am willing, however, to give
my views on the questions that are
being discussed by the people Of the
state.
1.-The office OF governor is an exec
utive Office. His duty Is to enforce
the law, and no man ought to or can
be elected governor Of Missouri
about whose sincerity Of purpose to
enforce the law there is any doubt,
ut is true to a certain extent that
the successful enforcement OF the law
depends upon public sentiment. 20
years ago, or even ten years ago 1t
would have been very difficult to
have closed the saloons OF the great
cities on Sunday They are closed
today and ought to be kept closed,
and II | am elected governor they
will be.
81 believe In a strict regulation OF
the liquor traffic and the laws regu-
lating the saloon should be strictly
enforced.
"The states that have made decid-
ed progress along prohibition lines
have not been prohibition states like
Kansas and Maine, but the local op.
ton states like Texas, Mississippi
Tennessee and Missouri.
The present local option law has
worked very satisfactorily in Mis-
souri. 1t is a Democratic law, pass'
ed by Democratic legislature and
signed by a Democratic governor and
1t follows the Democratic principles.
1t gives the cslcommunity the right
to regulate its own affairs. II the ma
jority OF the voters OF community
desire prohibition they can have It,
and II the majority desire licensed
saloons they can have that, but nel-
ther community can force it's own
views upon the other. This is good,
Democratic doctrine.
"Where a community has adopted
local option as provided by law the
officers OF the state should see to 1t
that the law Is enforced.
"The adoption OF constitutional
amendments is a matter placed by
law wholly beyond theprovince of the
governors duties. II the legislature
desires to submit q prohibitory reso-
luton 1t can do so regardless OF the
wishes OF the executive. He has no
veto power in that respect. And IL
such q resolution should be submit
ed by the Legislature and adopted by
the people it would become the law
OF the land, and should l be governor
OF the state l would enforce it as |
would any other law.
These briefly, are my views on this
proposition. When the campaign
opens shall discuss these matters
fully before the people.
"These questions in regard to the
regulation Of the liquor traffic are,
just now, apparently foremost In
the public mind but there are many
other important questions that must
be considered during the campaign.
"The control OF the great corpora
tions by a reasonable exercise OF the
powers oi the state, the regulation OF
public utilities, the equitable adjust
ment Of the burdens Of taxation, ad.
vancement OF the cause Of education,
promotion Of manufacturing indus
tries within the state and the devel.
opment Of resources Of the state, the
improvement Of the highways, both
OF the land and water; these and
many other questions Of vital inter.
est are to be considered, and during
the many intervening months be-
tween now and the time Of the pri.
mary, the people will not only have
an opportunity to form their own
opinions, but TO flnd out where those
presenting themselves for Offices