Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-08-25
Who Are Prohibitionists?

Many men who hate the saloon,
who have long fought the evil OF
strong drink, and who are tho
roughly committed to the prohi-
bition of the beverage liquor traf-
fc, find themselves condemned
and sometimes villifed because
they differ in method from others
W ho seem to think their way is the
only way. Just as certain Re-
publicans who take their opinions
ready made from stalwart leaders
have recently sought to read out
of that party men of large brain
and true heart who do their own
thinking, so some temperance adj
vocates would class with the
friends of the saloon all who be-
lieve there is a better way OF get
ting the prohibition Of the liquor
traffic than by eyerlastingly de-
crying the men who have not seen
fit to join the political Prohibition
party.
1t is high time, therefore to ask
the question, "What constitutes
a prohibitionist?" To whom does
this term apply? Is it to be limit
ed to those who declare that ''The
Democratic and Republican parties
are whiskey soaked" beyond all
redemption, and that whoever al
lies himself with either one, by
that very fact acknowledges his
friendship for the saloon? Are
there no prohibitionists save those
who vote the political Prohibition
party ticket? If so, then there are
only 4,l91 of them in this state, for
this was the vote cast for Chain,
the Prohibition candidate in 1908;
vet we are just entering upon a
vigorous campaign throughout the
commonwealth in behalf OF the
prohibition of the manufacture
and sale of intoxicating liquors as
a beverage.
The Interpretation thus placed
upon the term is altogether too
limited. John G.. Woolley is just
as much of a prohibitionist to-day
as when he ran for president upon
the Prohibition ticket. He says:
am a prohibitionist but not a
partyist; | am for the extermina-
ton of the beverage liquor traffic
by the will of the people and in
the manner chosen by the people.
by towns, counties, territories and
states working inward and upward
to the Federal capitol; but as for
that small cabal that climbs uI
and down a stationary pedestal
erected to itself and bowls at those
who pass, | was never in it, or if,
by any possible Interpretation Of
my actions, | did belong thereto
then | have left. The true Prohi.
bition party has become so broad
and so big as to include every So
ciety and every citizen that il
working for the complete suppress
sion of the beverage liquor traffic
This greater Prohibition party
could support the Republican can
didate for governor of Indiana
and the Democratic candidate TO
the governor of Tennessee in tn.
last election.
The official organ of the Meth
odist Protestant church in Americ
says:
If to be a prohibitionist mean
to be eternally hostile to the sa
loon, with a fixed determinatio.
for it's extirpation, but by any jus
method that will succeed, then W
are prohibitionists every day i
the year, without mental reserva
ton or evasion; but if to be
prohibitionist means to antagoniz
every method having for its objec
the overthrow of the liquor traffic
except that of the Prohibitio.
party, then we are not in sym
pathy with it. AS we see it, ever
district, county and state that ha
won the fight for a ''dry" territor
is SO much gain in the ultimat
accomplishment of nationwide
prohibition.
These two expressions, sample
of many that might be given, d.
fine the issue. The interpretatio
given the term must be suffi cientl
broad to include all who will VOL
together for the humiliation
the beverage liquor traffic. The
may be degrees of zeal, but WHIT
ever is thoroughly committed
the redemption of our people frol
the dominion of alcohol is a pre-
hibitionist.
We will need the votes of ov,
800, 900 such persons next autum
in order to carry the amendmen
and we should be opening Of
ranks to take in every voter WI
will cast a dry ballot and NAL
himself feel at home, rather ths
producing discomfort to those wi
while old soldiers in the warfal
against intoxicants, have new
worn the uniform Of any particuli
organization.
What we need in this state is
develop prohibitionists in the lar
and true sense. We want mi
who see beyond their noses; me
of large mental caliber and swe
Christian spirit, who in the mid
of the battle against the bottle CT
say a cheerful word and gi
hearty greeting to every broth
man who likewise strives to bril-