The public weal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1906-1908, 1907-11-01

| whether these laws will be enforced
by party not elected for that pur
pose is yet to be determined. Hun
dreds of local and county option vic
tories have been won North and South
and nearly one-half of the people of
the Union are now living under some
form of prohibition. But only five
states have as yet incorporated the
policy in either their constitution or
statutes. The saloon issue is much
in the public eye and this gives great
| joy, as it well may, to the faithful
| workers who have toiled on through
the hard years against the conspiracy
of silence which has faced the reform.
Yet the chief advantage of the pres
ent publicity is the opportunity it
gives to get before the public a de-
finite and practical plan to kill the
saloon.
The Prohibition party has such a
plan. 1t is in perfect harmony with
the genius of our government and
with the history of all successful pol
itical reforms in America. 1t pro-
poses the election of legislators to
enact laws prohibiting the impOrta-
ton, transportation, manufacture, and
sale of intoxicating liquors for bever-
age purposes; the election of judges
to interpret those laws in accordance
with the intention of their trainers;
and the election of officers from con-
stable to president, to enforce them
without fear or favor.
In Minnesota the program con-
templates the election of enough Pro
hibitiOnists to the House of Repre-
sentativeS next NOvember-men about
whom we will not have to guess, who
will not need to be pledged nor cOaxed
nor bulldOzed-to control the organic
alton of that body and thus secure
the election of sure enough" Pro-
hibitionist Speaker who will not
pledge himself to a square deal and
then stack up the temperance COM
mittee IL to three against us.
But the success of this program
would upset political calculations, de-
feat personal ambitions and to some
extent disrupt political organizations"
Yes, but what issue now separates
Republicans and Democrats from each
other, either in Minnesota or else
where? For what does President
Roosevelt or Mr.. Bryan stand that is
not approved and even zealously urged
by the other? How recently has any
issue worth mentioning divided Min
nesota Republicanism and Democracy?
What national issue enters into the
state contests? Are not the business
interests of our commonwealth we'll
taken care of whether a Republican or
a Democrat is at the helm of state?
But suppose conditions were other
wise. Suppose there were a preponder-
ance of business ability or of patriot
ism or Of honesty in one or the other
OF the two big parties. Suppose
Prohibition did not spell greater pros
perity than the nation has ever
known. Suppose it were not true
that in the ranks of the Prohibi-
ton party there are many business
and professional men who have been
conspicuOusly successful in their pri-
vate affairs, thus showing their fitness
for managing the states affairs sue
cessfully. Suppose, in word, that
we were compelled to put to the
front either manhood or money, our
boys or our gold the interests of the
home and of legitimate business or
the ambitions of self-seekers and the
perpetuation of political organizations
which have outlived their usefulness.
Where ought a man of brains and
heart, man who loves his country
and his fellowmen, to stand?
Why not deal the saloon in Mime
sofa its deathbIow during the pres
ent political year? This reform is
certain to go forward The saloon
is doomed to death. An unfading
crown of glory awaits the brows of
individuals and the states which lead
the victorious conflict. Shall all the
honors go South and East and West
of us? Why may not history record
in epOch-making movement in the
North Star State this Year2 Shall