Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-10-01
NQH|DITION
IN OKLAHOMA
rovsrnOr Cruce Tells How the
Policy Has Succeeded
in that State ID
WORKED WONDERFULLY WELL
y. Good Argument Can Be Used to
n,.-shrow Prohibition" Asserts
His Excellency, Who Knows
What He Is Talking
About.

lBy Lee Cruce, Governor Oh Okldnohal
don't know that l could give you
mo hest possible argument favorable
N statewide prohibition. This is a
ranendous question, and the .argu.
rspt might think most favorable
.,ne other man might consider of Sec
Vniary Importance.
We have had this question before
he people of Oklahoma for number
# years. 1t was one of the leading
msstions at the time the Constitution
gss adopted, and at the time the prop
@ldon was submitted to our people in
lie form Of a Constitutional provision
rOvdlng for statewide prohibition,
he people Of Oklahoma, by a major.
III Of about 1900 votes, adopted that
NOusion as a part of the Constitution
d the state.
Of course the local option element
ID the state and the Q@en-saloon ele-
nent continued hostile to the prohibi-
taa law and did all they could to rem
der its enforcement Objectionable to
hs people Of the state and as little eff
hCtye as possible.
Acting under a provision of our Con.
situton which permits the people to
invoke the Initiative, an amendment
vas prepared and initiated by the PEG.
De Of the state Who favored open sa-
hcns asking for a repeal of the pro
ahitiOn provision Of the Constitution
This proposition was submitted to the
people at the last general election held
b his state in November, 1910. AT
that tine the people again, by a ma
NHty Of more than $4,000, declared
favor Of statewide prohibition.
The law in this state has worked
Goaderfully we'll and While there are
plenty Of people here who make the
bold assertion that it has been a fail.
us YET when YOU investigate their an
scedents you will find that in every
case they are men who have fought
lioliOtion from the beginning.
think that I am not at all extrava.
al, When | say that not one-third as
uaen whisky is consumed in Okla
alla under our present law as would
V consumed in this state if we haG
'pel saloons. That the law is violated
10 one will deny and so is every 9th
law that we have upon the statute
DoSi OF Oklahoma. When you con
'lsf The fact that there are thousands
" people In the state who were vic
lay opposed TO the enactment of the
Nv Il is remarkable that there are
Ny more violations of the prohibition
XIV man occur in This state.
!Ae law upon the whole, is as vel
.-o'ced as any other law upon the
s@'u,e books which deals with a sim
y situation. 1t is much better en-
I'sa 'aan the law against gambling
'-'S state. 1t is a desirable Law
L.I every standpoint Looking at i
WV 1.l lae moral viewpoint, it tends tc
~.sI citizenship and better govern
-,l~ From the economical stand
.-l.' It IS clearly demonstrated tina
hug, means better homes. better food ant
''sl clothing for thousands of won
q IA and children in this state.
,' '-'le is absolutely no good argu
nt M. .lat can be used to overthrow
r s.-l'l,ion. The usual plea behint
, I us opponents hide is that it i.
lr... a-iE .a~ and therefore is un
If is no more an invasio,