The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-01-12
ARRANGEMENT
Of PROHIBITION

(PortlaaG Oresonian, Oct 30. 1907
The Oregorian stands for strict
regulation of the liquor trade. and for
strict enforcement of the regulations
It opposes prohibition because 1t does
not consider prohibition reasonable or
just; because It authorizes and pro-
vides unnecessary restrictions upon
personal conduct and private right;
because II forces q secret trade that
Is more Injurious than the open trade
under regulation; because it strikes
a blow at many useful and important
industries: because its enactment by
any state Is sign of narrow provin-
cialism. and Oregon ought to be kept
out OF this class Of states To enter
1t would be hurtful in many ways to
her reputation for sanity, and in
many ways hurtful to her business
and industry. A prohibition state IL
q small, wrangling community. Wash.
tngton and California will not be pro.
htbition states. Should We adopt pro
hibftion 1t would be one Of many other
proofs that We were falling behind
In the race Of progress; that the
dry rot" had not only struck US. but
had sunk deep. No pun intended in
the phrase about dry rot"
On this subject. now a year in ad.
vance Of the time when the vote on
state prohibition is to. be taken, The
Oregonian uses the opportunity to de-
clare its position. 1t knows it must
declare its position frankly on the
subject; and 1t cannot shirk the duty
1t knows, moreover, that its readers
who consider this subject from a
reasonable point of view will agree
with it: that others, who simply con.
slider the subject from the standpoint
Of their opposition to a trade that
in irresponsible hands becomes an in.
strument Of abuse and must be sub
jected to correction of law, statutory
and moral. will not agree with it
The appeal is to the larger and wider
judgment The appeal is to those
who understand the expression of the !
moral poet Of two thousand years ago
who exclaimed, What can laws avail ]
when the customs of the people, their |
social conditions and wants, the va |
riOus requirements OF their business |
and industry. do not call for the legal !
In such cases laws |
are not only vain-empty. that is to |
say-but in many ways may be posi- !
lively hurtful Morality is not based !
on law. but law on morality. They |
who desire to prohibit in their own
localities have the opportunity now
in local option.
The opportunity has been abused as |
The OregOnian foretold it would be.
by enabling the rural districts to
force prohibition On the county towns
that didn't want it. This forcing pro
cess is now to be attempted on all Z
all protesting towns and
cities and communities in the stats
Of Oregon. 1t Is the opinion of The
that it will not succeed:
but should 1t succeed the consequence
will be injurious to the state in many
multitude OF ways-ma.
terially industrlally and morally-by
giving the state an undesirable repu
LatiOn. IN company with the narrow
ness Of Maine and Kansas: by keep
ng people out Of our borders who
nave breadth OF view and want rea.
freedom of action; by gener
,ting secret traffic and setting the
neanest among us to spy upon their
leishbOrs: by weakening personal
md moral responsibility among those
whom the state would undertake to
,Oddle and to protect Tor kill with
Lindness. Character, neither for in
lividuals nor for states. is made In
his way. Personal responsibility is
,asis of all There are other features
II the argument which. perhaps, may
'e developed particularly as to
he offensive intrusion Of clericals and
PRIESTS. who use their argument as
N instrument for holding the ascend
ncy OF dOgmatic pretension over the