The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1908-10-30
as to how they should handle the
liquor traffic within their respective

as to how they should handle the
liquor traffic within their respective
municipalities. No more than the
State of Kansas should dictate tc
the State of South Dakota, how theil
business should be run. When yor
speak of the farmer who pays the
taxes having voice in these mat.
tiers, | assure you they have the right
under the now existing laws to woe
in their respective townships: 1.-THE
sale or no sale of intoxicating liq-
uors.' Taking the eastern part OF
Pennington County for an illustra-
ton: The farmer composes the
greater part of the municipalities
and have voice in the consent of
the sale of liquors." Now as to the
proposition of So per cent of the
crimes being caused by intoxicating
liquors, there is diversity of opin-
ion. l cannot agree with the state
ment, but be that as it may, it is
a certainty that in all localities
where the sale of liquors are pro-
h1bited that the crime rate has
rather increased than diminished
AS 1t has been unguestionably dem
onstrated, that it is not question of
no liquor or liquor sale, but a ques-
ton of selling under high license, or
without license. The latter system
Invariably being adopted where pro-
himtory Jaws are in force. WE
have practical examples Of this prop
osition in Pennington County today.
We have localities in Pennington
County that have voted out the IL
censed saloon and would any fair
minded man say that the sale Of
liquors is not continued in those To-
calities without license.
If prohibitory laws prohibited, 1t
might present a different question,
but experience has taught that t
does not prohibit, but only developes
in the minds Of many good citizens a
desire to evade the laws rather than
respect them. Such laws being re-
pugnant to the wishes of so many
people, their enforcement being i'm
possible and the only purpose they
perform is to inject into the public
mind, and ESPECIALLY the younger
men the idea that laws are to be
violated or enforced according to
the will OF those affected and the
disregard for one law only leads to
the disregard Of all laws, and in this
connection l do not wish to be op-
posed to a proper prohibitory law,
and If one were to be aimed at one
or all of the manufacturers of in
toxicating liquors, it might present
different proposition. But to be
continually making attempts to har-
rass small retail dealer of liquors,
seems to be going away down the
line from the great evil, if it be such.
What would the mass of our peo-
pie say If they saw a good sensible
butcher stabing calf in the tail to
effect it's slaughter, which l believe
is fair comparison to the proposed
measure to stop the sale of liquors.
So long as liquors are manufactured
they will be sold. The prohibition
question is a great deal like social
ism, it presents a magnificent dream
OF a panacea for all ills and in that
dream one can picture an ideal con-
dition for humanity to exist, 'an
| ideal home, but unfortunately hui
mainly was not so constituted to fill
| their place in the scene.
II liquor selling has its evil, it is
not the laws regulating liquor that
needs the remedy, but the individual
who is abusing the liquor, and l
honestly believe that if all the time,
money and intellect of the good men
who are fighting liquor, was exerted
and expended in saving down-fallen
humanity different condition would
prevail. Would it not be better to
return to the Scriptural doctrine OF
moral suasion in stead of using law
making powers and the gospel sledge
to make people live as you think
they ought to.
Finally looking at the proposed
county option law, can only view
it as an absolute encroachment upon
the personal liberties OF the minor
municipalities of county, and an
attempt to force upon a people Q
form and manner of living which
you may think proper, that may be
repugnant to them, and as a matter
of justice and right, you have nc
more right to force your manner OF
living upon them than they have
to force you to live as they do. Vote
No" on the county option law
Yours for the suppression OF all
fanaticism and a government by the
people and for the people.
| noy;5 n