The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-08-16

Olu nOt nave even lne hihnsy cAtuno
that the people did not want II. They
did, and do yet. No other local ques-
tion has provoked as much discussion
or as pronounced and unanimous pub
lie sentiment in Kentucky. still, the
popular will and the constitution have
been defed. How and why? The
liquor interests, particularly the brew
ers, have prevented II. They have pre-
vented II by means Of their activity In
politics in Kentucky-in both parties
maybe. in the Democratic party par
ticularly, by which they have con-
trolled the Legislature. They are as
sessed in every State and Legislative
campaign for political purposes. and
they pay. In return they get immun-
ity as against the constitution. They
prefer to contribute TO the election OF
State Senators (there are fewer OF
them), then Of Representatives, and
lastly to the State executive officers.
They are determined at whatever cost
that that section Of the constitution OF
Kentucky (section CD shall not be
carried into effect by legislation. In
spite Of campaign after campaign In
which that issue has been presented In
electing Legislatures, and in spite OF
emphatic majorities pledged to the
county unit and the constitution. the
Legislature has not acted. The liquor
interests have defeated it-to the
shame Of Kentucky-have controlled
the Legislature for twenty years, and
that against the constitution and the
people. power such as that Is dan
gerous Well may politicians tremble
at It's menace. and certain big news
papers dance TO its music. A power
that is to be feared is power also to
be courted by those who fear II more
than they dare It.
| Let us clear away first some confus-
ing and misleading statements Of those
who are today openly fighting the
battles of the liquor interests In this
campaign They charge that State
wide prohibition is the issue. That Is
not true. II Is not even proposed by
our party as an issue. and could not
! be adopted except by an amendment
to the constitution Everybody knows
that no such amendment Is proposed.
Nor Is It the issue whether a mau
should be allowed to drink IL he
wants to.
It Is not at issue whether sobriety
or total abstinence shall be forced on
people as a legal instead of moral
status.
The whole issue is whether the con-
stitution shall prevail on this subject.
Whether as to the retail liquor bust
ness the constitution shall be a dead
! letter
Whether prohibition Is wise or I'M
wise as a policy, whether partial or
total prohibition should prevail, are
utterly beside the question. For how
ever one may think as to those things,
the question still comes back. What
shall be done with the constitution?
! Is II tolerable that any interest may
have the constitution nullified as to 1t
because the constitution is not thought
to be wise? IF so then the interests
which are monopolies could maintain
that Section 1913 Of the constitution
against monopolies he ignored for their
benefit. Indeed whenever II Is con-
ceded that any exact. mandatory pro-
vision of the constitution may be ig-
nored by any department or business
interest. because II Is impolitic. or 9th
srwise. the Constitution ceases to have
value as an instrument of protection
for the people. So plain proposition
need not be discussed. It seems
strange that anyone could be found to
seriously dispute II.
The liquor business is now a lawful
business where allowed by law to exist.
Its interests are therefore to be treated
in Kentucky under the constitution as
lawful. II is not to be treated differ
emily. only so far as the law recog-
nizes or creates the difference The
hue fr ~ lob
| It is a created right-so all the courts
declare. The doctrine Is universal. II
| Is the one business that Is regulated
by law under every government in the
world Its legal status is so we'll
settled In that resDect that II Is even
accented without further contest bv
the liquor peoDle. 1t Is also true that
many people engaged IN that business
desire 10 conduct It strictly within the
law. II Is a nifty they do not control
the business. So many in the business
refuse to live under the law defy IL,
break 1t, and corrupt its enactment,
/ that the whole business. as it were is
! treated in the public mind as being
guilty of these infractions. In simple
| Justice to the law-abidirs members
this statement is made. The innocent
/ mem DeTS OF IHe business are tluS SUD
iected to a double danger of being
subjected to harsher regulation be-
cause of the Righteousness Of their fell
lows: or, having their business out
lawed as the only means of curbing the
Iawlessness of the majority i'm IT, In
stead OF fighting society. they might
better fight the lawless element in
heir own calling. But the menace OF
that lawless element Is so imminent
and real that society must protect it.
self In this State we are comm tied
| TO regulation not determination.
Regulation includes under the consti-
'utlCn the right Ia deny the privilege
n given communities The people
nave deliberately reserved to them
selves the right 10 say in what COM
munities the extreme or modified regu-
ations shall amply The fight against
he people and the constitution has as
sumed the position by the liquor inter-
ests of not only defying the constitu-
lion, but of corrupting the politics OF