Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-10-24
A BIG PROHIBITION MOVEMENT.

A BIG PROHIBITION MOVEMENT.
Plans are nearly complete, accord
ing to the Associated Prohibition
Press" for the launching of great
popular movement to abolish the IL
quor traffic in Chicago and close the
city's 7,136 saloons. 1T is probable
that all civic reform and Prohibition
organizations of the great western ne
tropolis will unite in this move
ment," says the newsletter. IF the
election is held next year, the date
will be Tuesday, April S, 1910. If it
is postponed until 1911, it will be
April 4, 1911. In any event it will
be the most strategic and spectacu-
lar fight to date in the whole his
tory of the Prohibition reform.
whatever tbs vote may be that
comes as a climax to this campaign,
the prohibition forces declare it will
be the first step in the permanent
humiliation of the liquor traffic in
Chicago. If the no-license ballot
does not win this time, it is safe
to say that the campaign of educa-
ton which will be conducted in
every corner of the city will have
a far-reaching effect, and prove
splendid foundation for another and
more. successful canvass later. II
the unexpected happens and the pro-
hiBition forces win in this first Skin
mish, it will sound the knell of IL
quordom the nation over.
"The metropolitan daily press Of
Chicago have shown remarkable fair
ness and liberality toward. the new
developments in the temperance and
prohibition reform In the city and
nation as well. Space almost with
out limit is being given to the dis
cussion of this extraordinary cleo
ton project. At the request of the
Chicago Inter-Ocean, details pictur-
Ing some of the benefits which would
acrrue to Chicago under prohibition
were summarized in interviews with
the national chairman, Charles R.
Jones; the state chairman, Alonzo
e. Wilson and Fred D. l.. Squires,
editor OF the Associated Prohibition
Press. at Prohibition headquarters.
"The proposed prohibition move.
ment In Chicago is not at all prema-
ture. The great majority of the peo-
pie OF Chicago. including men, wom-
en- and children and more than ma
5ority of the voters of the city would
welcome the abolition of the liquor
traffic. Should the projected move
ment be launched to submit the no
license question to. popular vote,
every party prohibitionist in the city
will back it to the limit of his
strength and influence. 5,.. =. s
ITO understand rightly what pro-
hibition would mean in Chicago,
these facts must be recognized.
There is not home in the city where
the shadow of the liquor curse is IN
evidence which does not suffer NOR
ally and financially as result. Nine
out of every ten men who drink at
the saloon bar would welcome pro-
hibition either on their own account
or that of their famiIise or friends.
Thousands of drinking men have
swelled the prohibition majorities in
local elections throughout the coun-
try during the past few years. Many
of the largest employers of labor,
railroad companies, industrial and
mercantile corporations even now
will not tolerate drinking-men among
their wage-earners. Almost without
exception the most successful firms
In these various lines have entirely
eliminated the drinker. IN 49,.
Liquor is now acknowledged to
be at the bottom of municipal cor
ruption Whatever the outcome,
even with Indifferent or hostile on
cials, prohibition at its worst could
not be worse than the license sys-
tenn as at present administered after
forty years trial in the city Of Chica-
go. But once assured OF honest en-
forcement, some Of the benefits which
prohibition in Chicago would bring
70 the city may thus be summarized.
. ohibition. while not, Of course,
completely abolishing the liquor traf-