The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1910-10-28
A FARMERS VIEW OF
COUNTY OPTION
What l have to say as a farmer, I
will say under a few heads.

At the election in November the pee
pie of South Dakota are to vote On
County Option.
But what is County Optioni Some
do not clearly understand.
In the first place let it be distinctly
understood that County Option is not
prohibition as some affirm.
Prohibition aims to destroy for all
time all the saloons in the state.
The word "Option' means a kind
Of choice. No kind Of choice remains
where prohibition has been adopted.
We now have what 10 called Local
Option, under which the people Of most
towns in the state vote each year upon
the question of granting or with hold
ing saloon licenses in the town.
But ander Local Option the farmers
sannot vote. Only the people Of the
tswns can vote under Local Option.
The most distinct feature Of County
Option is this, that it permits the farm
ers to vote upon the license question
just the same as any other class.
SECOND.
II 10 unreasonable that the farmers
should be deprived of the right to vote
upon the saloon question, or any other
question Of general interest. The fierce
- %k;s xt+.. I'll - l -
We consider that more than two-thirds
Of the people Of this state reside upon
the farms. And in addition to this the
farmers pay more han two-thirds Of all
the taxes.
If twothirds Of eur people may be
deprived Of the right to vote upon the
question of this kind, why may they
not be deprived of the right to vote
upon other suestionsf Or all questionsi
Farmers, do not be deceived into vot-
ing against your own snfrsnchisemsnt
at the election in November. To adopt
County Option will not b to adopt pro,
hibitisn. County Option will merely
restore to the farmers the privilege Of
voting upon the questis, Of granting or
Withholding saloon licenses in the eoun-
ty where they reside.
The opportunity to vote will probably
rssur about snee in two years.
THIRD.
Those interested in the liquor busi
ness are opposed to permitting the
farmers to vote upon the license ques.
tien, because they know it will be diff
icult to deceive and corrupt such a
large, independent, intelligent, pstrio-
tic class of citizens. But no good rea
son can be given why farmer should
remain silent when a question of great
public interest il to be decided. Sa.
Icons affect farmers as directly as they
40 any class of people in the state.
FOURTH.
Seine criticism is made against Coun-
ty Option because it provides that ever
though a county may vote in favor of
saloons the saloons in such county shall
be confined to the localities that want
them. But there is nothing unfair in
this. Who is mean enough to insist on
forcing saloons upon communities that
do not want them
FIFTH.
The advocates of County Option do
not deny that they believe the saloon
to be a bad thing. Most men agree
with them in this, though some think
it to be what they call ga necessary
evil County Option will give to all
the counties that believe the saloon to
be 4 necessary evil, the right to license
it. 1t will give to the counties that
think they can keep the evil outside
their borders, the privilege Of making
the attempt. In case opinions should
change in such 4 county after a trial
Of the no-license policy, it will be the
privilege Of its voters to vote the sa-
leon back again.
SIXTH.
In view of the above facts, what
fair minded man can object to County
Opticni
The law will appear at the head Of
the long ballot.
VOTE YEsl VOTE YES! VOTE YES!
III YEs