The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-08
'PROH|bs' PusHING
STATEWIDE FIGHT
Say Slogan Make Michigan Dry
Grows More Popular Every Day
Local Option Has Weaknesses.

THE result OF the local option cleo
tions in Michigan this week has been
10 prevent a split In the Democrats
and Republican parties in the state
this fall says E. w. Mason, of Oak
land county. one OF the organizers OF
the Prohibition party.
Mason reasons that, had the "drys
swept the state. one or other OF the
big parties would have put prohibi'
tion plank in It's state platform this
fall. The big majorities OF the
vets" in the counties they carried
aud the fact that two counties which
had been dry" went wet will pre-
vent such a PLANK bedng adopted by
either Democrats or Republicans AZ
present he thinks.
Local option is wrong, both morally
and constitutionally," adds Mason.
The liquor traffic is crime and II Is
not right to submit to vote OF the
people as to whether they will Legal.
ize a crime
Consistent with the plans for push
ing the statewide campaign of the
Prohibition party, which were made
last year. that party is now sending
out from Detroit 10000 copies Of a
new campaign book Already there
are 20 men under salary soliciting
pledges to vote the Prohibition ticker
throughout the state and these are
getting signatures at the rate OF 20
each per day. The Prohibitionist
central committee intends TO have 200
agents working before long.
In NJ
plan is being worked out, by which
young men and women are asked TO
secure five pledges each. Those who
do so receive a button as an emblem
OF their loyalty.
There is no doubt but that the Pro-
hibitionists are very much In earnest
and they have hopes OF attracting TO
their standard practically all the vot-
ers In the state opposed to the liquor
traffic. To the dry voters they
contend that prohibition of the liquor
traffic must be made a party issue, so
that officials pledged TO that principle
can be put In Office to enforce the
laws.
While a constitutional amendment
or prohibitory nature would require
the votes of 81 per cent OF the electors,
1t is urged that only 3S per cent OF the
voters can secure state prohibition by
eiecting governor, legislature and
sheriffs and prosecuting attorneys in
three-cornered party fight, and en-
force the new laws better than would
be the case IL either Republican or
Democratic office-holders be entrusted
with these. laws
In Michigan We have reached the
time when the demand is emphatic
for state prohibition" says the cam
paign book. The cry OF Make Mich
igan dry November, 1910 is growing
more and more popular every day.
Local option, though better than
license, in any town or county, is
always cursed by the 'blind-pig' and
tho 'boot-legger. and always will be
SO as long as neighborinS communi-
ties or counties license the saloon,
so long as the state system Is license
and so long as the United States gov
eminent continues 10 sell for $50 Il
federal license TO any man In no.
license territory.
Likewise state prohibition will a.
ways be crippled. and In a large meas
ure be ineffective while the federal
government continues the license
policy and allows liquors 10 be i'm
ported into prohibition territory I'M
der the Juise of interstate commerce. =
The book states that the plan OF
the Prohibition party is TO ask the an
ti-liquor men to withdraw from the
| Democratic and Republican parties
and 10 reorganize along aggressive
/ lines for the complete suppression oi
| the beverage liquor traffic In Michigan
/ by electing men who will enact and
enforce laws prohibiting the manu-.
facture, TRANSPORTATION and sale
OF beverage liquors in the state. The
Prohibition party recognizes the
! transportation feature as the danger.
Gus one in local option and an outline
of laws 10 control this is given.
The campaign book contains tables
OF statistics showing that the con.
| sumption of liquor in the United States
has increased in spite Of state and
county no-license laws. and that the
! production Of beer has increased In
eastern Michigan in spite of the fact
that many counties have gone nomin-
ally dry