The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1909-07-15

WV
IlNOT, WARD COUNTY, NORTH
ionists In Office under the profit sys.
TEN would prove 20 % but common
clay. They would not all be able to
stand the crushing tr.-l under which
most people fail. Most folks would
need money too much then, Just a.
they do now. to resist temptation. and
|prohibitory iaw-hke anti-bribcry
lav-wouid prove a rope of sand.
To be sure, many men would be
lloyd, but the strain would be 60
constant and SO heavy, the need Of
tho emolumeuts Of Office so great and
the difficulties put in the way by
liquor men so stupenuous that the
result would be extremely unsatisfac'
tory to the uncompromtsing Prohibit
tionists. The enforcement Of pfohi.
|hition would depend upon the charac-
ter Of the officials ani their unflinch-
ing loyalty in tho face OF the most
seductive temptation. It would still
be to the immediate self-interest Of
Legislators, congressman, councilmen
and executives to compromise, to
weaken. to adroitly nullify the law
for the profit will always be on the
side or wrong. =.
2. Meanwhile the states, counties
and cities not dominated by the pro
habition party would be the open
strong hoads of the tariff from which
an unceasing, insidious, well-nigh ir-
resbsttble stream of Influence" would
be continuously passing into all Pro-
hibttion States, counties and towns.
And In order to accomplish the sup
preston OF the liquor business the
supreme attention and effort OF the
people for generations would be ne
lcessary. ..s..-.
And even then It you'd not stay
down. It would live and grow "un-
der the rose," it would break out like
wild-fire, it would gather strength
and wage unceasing warfare by the
magic power of money against right
eous government.
And it would live in spite Of az,
simply because it would pay hnans
cially-pay its, makers and sellers
and pay. the officials to betray the
law. .a
In the little town where I was
reared. Of the thirty-two boys near
by own age with whom l was best
acquainted fifteen became drunkards
and six have already met death by
means of drink, though there was no
saloon during the period we were
growing up, and vigorous efforts
we're made to prevent the illegal sale
Of liquor. "As long as there rs eight
cents profit in ten-cent drink" the
deadly business will go on.
4. Economic interest always con"
trots the moral conscience OF q ma
ton, This ia why the voters of the
United States, = including 100000
Christian men, have ignored the
claims Of prohibition even while ad-
hitting their justice. And for argu-
ment's sake I have merely been sup
posing the political triumph OF the
Prohibition party, which from the
very nature Of the case will never
be permanent under Capitalism; mo-
ney, not morals, rules under the Pro-
fit System, and always will.
What hope, then, Of Socialism!
Only by awakening the masses to
see that their own interests, their
own, liberty, their own. lives as hui
man beings-all they hold dear-re-
ouires the complete revolution Of in
dustry and commerce-the absolute
overthrow of the Capitalist System
the final reinforcement Of the power
Of money.
Socialists are no better than 9TH
ers, but the system they propose
will make graft, robbery and bribery
impossible. This will seem unreason-
able to those who have read but
few Socialist books, yet 1t Is true'
and I urge you to study the subject
thoroughly. It rs too large q pro-
position to put lightly aside.
".
Socialism WIN XIII the Saloon
Socialism will inevitably kill the
LIQUOR business by quietly cutting Its
tap roots.
/. Under Socialism there villa be
absolutely no profit in it ier anyone
no financial inducement whatever to
make or sell liquor; there Will be