The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-05-01
MITCHELL AND PROHIBITION

MITCHELL AND PROHIBITION
There were two classes of people
who were surprised at the result of
the city election in this city when
the license proposition was defeated
and prohibition carried. The
licenses supporters were not thinking
for a moment that they woull be
defeated, and the prohibition people
we're equally surprised at their
victory. Mitchell has been con-
sidered a safely license town. Il
has carried the question by very fair
majo1ties each time that 1t has been
voted upon. In 1905 the vote was
the largest In its favor. when 1t
secured a majority Of 275. In 1907 lie
was cut down a small amount and
carried by 234. The prohibition
people claim that this year they did
not really expect to carry their prtn
ciples, but rather, to cut down the
big majority to large extent.
granting that license would carry by
about SO.
The surprise was SO great among
the license people tnat it drew forth
some expressions concerning the
future, which, perhaps, OF more
sober reflection will be recalled. We
are not inclined to the belief that
the absence OF licensed saloons is
going to have any great detrimental
effect en- the growth and development
of Mitchell. In some avenues 1t will
Idoubtless have some effect, IN that
the wholesale liquor distributing
houses will have to close and it will
mean that a number of people will
be thrown out Of employment; there
will doubtless be ten empty buildings
when the saloons shall have closed.
There IS, however, enough activity
AMONG the business lei Of the city
to close up the gap made and turn
their shoulders to the wheel and push
even for greater things. Other cities
seem &c have grown and developed
under prohibition and there does
not seem to be any good reason why
Mitchell should stand still. There
is o a mar III Mitchell. be he
license man or prohihitioist, who
owns property that is going to say
anything to the discredit of the city
that win have a tendency to injure
his property, and such would be the
lease to put up a cry that Mitchell
is going backward. TEere are too
many industries here now; there are
more to come in the future which
can be secured by a still further
united effort.
There Is hardly an enterprise In
the city which ought TO suffer,
except those which have been voted
out, by eason OF the change that is
to be made and we believe that aztec
the first disappointment the citizens
will get on the same common tasis
OF pushing for Mitchell.
That the prohibition law will be
enforced IN the proper spirit 10y
Mayor Elect Hitchcock and the
memhers OF the council is to be ex-
pected, and that he will carrv out
the expressed wishes Of the people
along that line he will be- fully
Justified in doing. lie WOULD not be
doing lis duty we're he to allow the
%iniraction Of the prohibition Law in
the least.
The day after the election there
vas some talk that Mitchell would
not be able to hold the corn palace
because Of the change In the license
question. There Is not the least
Jgruund TOR making such a stat ment,
and the executive committee has
never ilarbored the idel for one
moment OF giving up t!.e palace this
fall. The 8 1000 which the saloons
will dtaw down from the substitution
list will he made up from other
sources and the corn pal ce fund
W II be larler than ever before and
tl ~ mmittee will bend TO its work
wit, gfeDter zeal than ever. Fifty
men Of the Civic Federation pl, dyed
Themselves to cnver the subscription.
of the silopns in rase the cit, WEI t
dry and they will do il.
II Mitchell's rivals expect to gain