Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-10-20

which has utterly demoralized it
commercially as we'll as political
ly and from which it will not re-
cover for years. SeriOusly,is the
game worth the candle?
Much the same conditions exist
in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi
and other States which have tried
this impossible and impractical
idea. We might also prolong this
article by dwelling on the expert
ence of Iowa, New York, Nebraska
and other states which have long
since turned their backs upon it
but it would merely be a monoto-
nous recital of the same dismal
failure over and over again. From
beginning to end the experience
of these States shows that law
which does not meet with the
approval of majority of the
people in a community cannot
be enforced in that community.
The impractical dreamer grows
enthusiastic over his futile cause
and makes the wish the father to
the thought-but in the cold, pas
sionless hour of stern reality his
dream is shattered-for human
nature is the same yesterday, to-
day and forever.
In the light of history would it
not be best to let we'll enough
alone? Why blindly insist upon
fastening the incubus upon Mis-
souri,, which contains the fourth
largest city in the Union? If small
cities like Portland, Augusta,
Wichita, Leavenworth, Oklahoma
City and Memphis find the task
impossible, what will be the con-
dition in st. Louis and Kansas
City if this measure is enacted in
to law? To-day, 76 of the largest
and finest counties in Missouri are
dry. The State is prosperous and
at peace with itself and the world
so in the name of calm reason
and good sense, why not let we'll
enough alone? Why not push the
fight against the saloon without
violating the American principle
Of local self-government? The ad-
vocates of temperance have been
winning victory after victory un-
der the local option law. Should
=, they not be content to fight it out
along these lines in the future as
in the past?
The census figures which have
just been made show that Mis-
souri, needs to get down to busi-
ness as never before if we are to
hold our enviable position in the
! sisterhood of States. We need tt
! tell the outer world about our
matchless resources and our limit
less opportunities-for to do this
| means not only that we will at
tract thousands of newcomers from
other States, but it means sub
stantial increase in the value o
J every acre of land within ou
boundaries. That such ends can
not be subserved by voting upo.
} the State a measure which mean!
D endless turmoil, agitation an
strife for the next twenty year
b should be apparent to ever
\ sensible citizen who views tn
= matter calmly for moment. An,
here is the point-to get men t.
think before they act. If this
done, Statewide Prohibition wi.
be defeated by 100000 majority
I and this result will not be vic
:. tory for the saloon as an institu
tion but a victory for commo
= sense and the sacred America
i principle of local self-governmen
-
J The several communities i
Missouri must rise or fall togethe
n. What hurts one must eventual
= rebound against the other. Th
j. city of st. Louis is not only tn
- fourth city in the Union but it
:, the Missouri farmers creates
-, market place-and hence, whe
- !. its thousands of business men an
i every labor union appeal to tn
- state to protect it against the d.
~ moraliziag conditions which woul
i follow the adoption of State-wid
q Prohibition should not that az
- peal be needed as matter of goc
! business sense as we'll as commo
fo;ruoaeO DhfpIy II nuar