The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-20
No PROHIBITION
VOTE FOR IDAHO
The Lower House of the Legis-
lature Refuses to Stand
for Ii.
IT WAS A PARTY MEASURE:
THE ALIGNMENT MADE
Republican Party Action in
Favor Put the Prohibition
Party Down and Out.
BY G. E. ARNEY.


BOISE. IDA, Feb. l9.-The plank
IN the Republican State platform de-
manding vote of the people of the
state at the regular biennial election
In l9l2 on statewide constitutional
prohibition amendment, suffered de-
Feat at the hands of the house last
Wednesday.
Tins, however, was not Just Il ma
Jority proposition. 1t required two
thirds of the members present to au-
thorize the submission
IT was "A surprise TO the people of the
state when the Republican party in
eluded this proposed sensational legis.
latIon In their party platform. There
mad been little discussion of the matter
and slight attention TO it by the party
papers OF Idaho, whose editorial pages
tend TO swerve public opinion
1t is entirely fair TO the satuation
10 state that the embodiment of this
prohibition plank by the Republican
party last fall, served to put out of
business the Prohibition party of Idaho
Heretofore, for many years, they had
maintained positive stand us party,
polling steadily increasing vote. not
alarming to the point of success of any
zatlon just the same, with officers and
usually, speaking campaign followed
their conventions. AS result of this,
the Republican candidates fell heir TO
quite all the votes of the enthusiastic
prohlbitionists of the state at the last
election.
How They Divided.
This, of course. served. to line up all
the votes of the non -Prohibitionists
against the Republican party. OF the
two extreme factions, ! am sure the
Prohibitionists had the better organi
zation. In fact, If the saloon men, the
breweries or the wholesale liquor men
had any organization at all, it was not
discovered. No one located them, hence
their work was free from the force of
organization. Two men at least have
been active here for moro than two
years in the promotion, first Of local
option elections and enforcement, and,
second, of the statewide prohibition
movement. One was Hercwig, the other
Nichol Both made speeches from one
end of the state to the other, and each
are understood to represent national
organizations for the promotion of tenn
pcrancc and restrictive laws, each
drawing salaries.
Thus far the temperance movement
in Idaho has progressed with the or
GaDlIdIlOn al on one sac.
Many highgrade papers Of the state
have refused to support the movement,
and this without regard TO political in.
chnation. For instance, the Boise
Statesman and the Occur d 'Alene Press,
both Republican papers, and the Lewis
ton Tribune and the Wallace Times,
both Democratic papers, have styled
the movement as unwise, unnecessary,
not sincere ard premature. 1t is prob
~ ,ff hn
organization of those opposed to these
reformatory laws should be formed TO
combat the anti saloon league. On this
question the Democracy, with its or
ganization, is not opposed to the he.
publcans 1t lodges the issue. and
endeavors TO keep out of the fight that
il NAV catch votes by it's omissions.
This il did in the last election.
Ulterior Motives,
II is no slandcr on the members of
the legislature TO state that many of
those opposed to the local option law
now in force, or to the movement to-
through a righteous fear of political
punishment or hope of political reward
In many Of the counties Of the state
the Temperance issue is so acute that
election would be impossible to the in
dividual without pledges being made
and kept as to votes on all phases OF
the question here at the eleventh Sos
sion.
II is unfortunate that men will sacrifice
their personal beliefs and inclinations 10
popular public demands, for the gratin
cation OF their personal poli,iSd, iana. amoi
dangerous results. 1t should be that men
I'm hearty sympathy, from center 10 cir"
cunfcrcnce should be here representing
such movements.
Probably one OF the very best barome-
tcrs To this local option law comes from
those nearest to IL from ahsol ute point
oT its adapta hillty TO the moral poisc OF
the peoplc who are cnjoinod To accept its
provisions, namely, the district judges OF
the state.
What Judges Think.
The election of an attorney to dis
t,Irt iudgcship makes no change in his
scopc OF vision, nor does II narrow his
range OF perception or his power OF de-
duction His Views then should be taken
as from mere manly man p2sisessed
edge on this or any particular subject.
Like most men In office Cor for that mat
ter in poll,tcs-and and they S,. simply ~ lussIe
not In politics.. they do not care TO be
quoted They do not object. however. TO
given to the public, as long as their
identity, to a certainty. be cioakod.
Three district judges In the state of
Idaho all of whom have had wide Judi
cIaI experiencc with the practical side OF
thc enforcement Of this lnw. have told me.
within the last four months. that the law
was In advance OF the moral demands OF
ibn pcople of their respective districts
and that 1t appeared 10 them as In the
class OF lII-advised legislation. am OF
;hc opinion that two Of the three voted
for local option when the issue was be-
fore them less than two years ago.
This is a sentiment which has become
prominent over largo portion OF Idaho
Turing the past year. IL has tisken pos
session OF many who voted for nm ac-
ccptancc OF the provisions OF the local
option law,
Among other interesting things which
the future has In store In the political
Ircua in Idaho Will be the attiiud" OF the
n, urfN m W