Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1912-10-10
PROHIBITION
IN OKLAHOMA
Governor Cruce Tells How the
Policy has Succeeded
in that State
WORKED WONDERFULLY WELL
mo Good Argument Can DE Used 10
Overthrow Prohibition ASSERTS
His ExceIicnoy, Who Knows
What He ls Talking
About

[ by Lee Cruce. Governor of Oklahomal
don't know that could give you
the best possible argument favorable
TO statewide prohibition. This is D
tremendous question. and the argus
meat ! might think most favorable
some ether man might consider of sec.
ondary importance.
We have had this question before
the people Of Oklahoma for d number
OF years II was one Of the leading
questions at the time the Constitution
was adopted. and it the time the prop
osttion was submitted to our people In
the form Of Constitutional provision
providing for statewide prohibition.
lie people of Oklahoma. BY major
ny Of about $4,000 votes, adopted chat
provision as d part Of the Constitution
Of the state.
Of course. the local option element
IN the state and tile open-saloon ele-
ment continued hostile to the prohibit.
ton law and did all they could to rem
der It's enforcement Objectionable To
the people Of the state and as little o.
fectigo as possible.
Acting under provision Of our Con.
stitution which permits the people TO
invoke the Initiative an amendment
was prepared and initiated by the peo-
pie OF the state who favored open sa-
looms, asking for a repeal Of the pro-
hibition provision Of the Constitution.
This proposition was submitted to the
people at the last general election held
In this state III November. 1910. At
that time the people again, by ma
jority OF moro than 25.000, declared
In favor or statewide prohibition
The law In this state has worked
wonderfully we'll, and while there are
plenty Of people here who make the
bold assertion that it has been d fail
ure, yet when you Investigate their an
tecedents you will find that In every
case they are men who have fought
prohibition from the beginning,
think that am not at all extrava-
CANT when say that not one-third as
much whisky Is consumed In Okla
homa under our present law as would
be consumed In this state II we had
open saloons. That the law ID violated,
no one viii deny, and SO Is every 9TH
or law that we have upon the statute
books of Oklahoma When you con
slider the fact that there are thousands
of people in the state who were vio-
lently opposed to the enactment OF the
law, it is remarkable that there are
not more violations of the prohibition
law than occur in this state.
The law, upon the whole, is as well
enforced as airy other law upon the
statute books which deals with sim
liar situation. 1t Is much better en-
forced than the law against gambling
in this state. II is a desirable law
from every standpoint. Looking at 1t
from the moral viewpoint, it tends 70
better citizenship and better govern
ment From the economical stand
point 1t Is Clearly demonstrated that
1t means better homes, better food ami
better clothing for thousands Of WON
en- and children In this state.
There is absolutely no good argu-
ment that can be used to overthrow
prohibition The usual plea behind
which Its opponents hide is that it is
sumptuary law and therefore is I'M
American. II In no more an invasion
Of Individual right than is any other
criminal law to be found upon the
statute books. The law mas as much
right to restrain man in the exer-
cises of vicious appetite as II has to
restrain him from vicious disposi-
ton, and thessarne reason that permits
the law to lay its restraining hand
upon the man inclined to commit MUIR
der will Justify the state In placing re-
straint upon the uncontrolled appetite
Of man who would sacrifice the com
fort and happiness Of those dependent
upon him by the qualification Of that
appetite.
In this state the Overwhelming YER
dict Of the home-lovings law-abidinr
stable citizenship Is in favor Of CT
law providing Tor statewide prohiLi-
ton.