Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-07-30

The Merlts:of Local Option.
cMrs. Clara C. Chaplin, Eos;onl

by these United States, should OBJ
iect to the peoples expressing
themselves by direct vote upon an
issue affecting the social and indi-
vidual welfare so closely as does
the liquor traffic. That a prohibit
zionist, or anyone with a~nti-saloon
ranks, should question the right
ness or expediency of such appli-
cation of the self-governing prin-
ciple, is still moro surprising.
Strange as it may seem, however,
there arc prohibitionists who OPP
pose the local option policy on the
ground that it is inherently wrong.
The traffic in Intoxicating liquor,
they contend, being m~anifestly an
unmixed evil" a wicked thing
the yes or no of its perpetuation
should not be left to the decision
of the majority. There is but one
righteous answer to the question:
therefore, in their judgment, OPP
ton is wrong in principle.
This policy oflocal option or the
referendum must be considered in
two aspects. First, broadly, as to
its relation to the fundamental
principles of government; second,
as to its practical results. A study
OF governmental science, together
with a study of the still broader
and deeper science upon which it
rest, reveals the righ5ness OF those
methods which permit the individ-
ual citizen to use his G~od-given
power of choice. Man learns
through the exercise OF this power.
With regards to results, a glance
at the whitening prohibition map
abundantly convinces Of the eIpo-
diency Of the policy as applied to
saloons.
Local option is sound in theory
and effective in practice. 1t leads
upward. 1t has led to state prohi-
bition in Georgia, Alabama, Mis-
sissippi. tits bringing other states
into line. The president of the Ma
tional W. c. T. u, Mrs. L. NJ. n.
Stevens-and none is better quail
flied to judge than she-predicts
that in five years we shall have a
solid prohibition south, and in ten
years national prohibition. Many
forces are cooperating to this end,
and one of the most powerful, is
that which comes through the agi-
tation and education attendant up
on local option contests. 1t has
been well said that " the voice Of
the people is the voice of God
qOhea they think, and there is moth"
ing like a local vote upon the liquor
question to make men, women, and
children think.
But, it is objected, having sub
mitted the matter to the people,
we bind ourselves to abide by the
vote whether "wet" or "dry."
An objection without solid foun-
dation and not supported by facts!
A majority-of the men people
Misunderstanding voted for the sa-
loon, we redouble our efforts for
prohibition, we continue the edu-
cative work that will in time build
up a public sentiment to change
the vote, and at the same time we
bring all the influence we possess
to the enforcement of the prohibi-
tive features of the existing liquor
law. For a conflict always forces
concessions from the trade to the
growing anti-saloon sentiment.
The more armed men, the more
prohibition they put into their re-
strictive measures, and the enforce
ment Of even a little prohibition
means continued agitation and
additional education, Neither a
law providing for local option nor
the limited prohibition which may
follow its enactment is for an in
slant to be regarded as compro-
mise. cline upon line, precept up
on precept, here a little and there
a little, "local option a step toward,
not a substitute for, national and
world prohibition-is not this
a safe and sure program?
A further point concerning
which there is apparent diversity
of opinion among anti-liquor forces
is that of efficiency. Municipal
statute, it is pointed out, is less
efficient than a state constitutions
al amendment, and both are less
efficient than a party in control
pledged to prohibition, state and
national. Needless to say, the
goal upon which every prohibition
eye is fixed is universal prohibit
ton. Undoubtedly also, a party
in power committed heart and soul
to the abolition Of the evil is more
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