The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1912-02-01
Candidate for State Senator An
nounces His Position on State
wide Prohibition


one in this campaign.
One OF the signers Of one Of these
articles is now circulating a petit
tion for lhe initiation of law for
statewide prohibition, and ! I'M
derstand that all who have signed
these articles have signed, or will
sign the petition asking that this
question be submitted to all the
voters at the general election, and
L assume, Of course, that. having
asked that the entire state vote on
The question. they are willing to
abide by the viii Of the voters at
the general election
| will sign the petition for the in-
itiation Of the statewide prohihi-
ton bin and at the general cleo
iion vii vote in favor of state
wide prohibition.
. II statewide prohibition is de-
feated I WILL NOT introduce a
statewide bill if | am a member Of
the senate, nor will ! vote for a
statH-wide bill with the emergency
clause attached
The petition for initiation is so
eerlian "a receive the requisite
number Of signatures that | take
il for granted that it will be voted
upon, and if sufficient signatures
cannot be obtained the electorate
rs overwhelmingly opposed to it.
! believe in the ruling of the ma
jority and am not afraid TO trust
the people with any question, and
do not believe that the legislature
should override the will Of the peo-
pie and enact a prohibition law
against the expressed will of the
people amy more than / believe
they should reepact the Turner
Jacobson bill and attach the emer-
Qeney clause, If the bill is defeated.
as | believe and trust II will be.
! am submitting my candidacy to
the Democratic voters. and 7 shah
abide by their decision. If defeat
ed ] shall vote and work for the
man whom my party prefers. If
dominated I will suhmit my can
aldaev g the entire people, and f
defeated | shall accept their YER
diet
I see no difference between the
submission to the people Of the
MERITS OF A MAN and the MER-
ITS OF a CIVIC QUESTION, and
unless the viii Of the people is al
lowed to govern the initiative and
referendum is a farce and failure
| have serious doubts of the
efficiency eff q prohibition law in
those parts Of the state where lo-
cal sentiment is in favor of reg
ulaled sale, but whether it will be
a success cannot. be determined un-
Ill it is tried. and | am willing to
give it q fair trial ia the hope that
ii viii be all the the most ardent
supporters wish
The second inquiry relates to the
shipment Of intoxicants into dry"
territory.
WITH the proposition of ship
ments from one state into another
the state legislature can have
nothing to do. as this is a question
for Congress to settle.
The supreme Court Of the United
States has recently decided that
state statute which seeks to pro
hibit the shipment Of liquor into
state Is invalid, and all state stat
utes, by this sweeping decision,
have been knocked into the proven
bial Cooked hstn
a state law prohibiting ship
ments into the state from outside
the state would not be worth the
paper upon which il was written
And So long as the u. S. govern
ment permits outside dealers to-
ship into dry territory, it would be
foolishness 20 prohibit the state
dealers from doing something
which we are forced to allow OUT
siders 70 DO.
Whisky dealers in Joplin, No
which nlaea IT npasen..s., K; an 4s S;fssi-
IN tae desert, ere flooding tho
mails with advertisements. and the
SuRI court Of the Il. s saws in
effect To them You may ship t0
MeRa all the liquor sou can sell
and we will force the X. c. s. Ry.
20 e carry all you present 20 them
ANY LAW OF ARKANSAS TO THE
CON IRARN NCIWiTHSTAAD-
ING
kNen II state law were enacted
prohibiting shipments from ore
p0ia tn tie STATE 10 ether points
dealers il 20 Smith and Little
HoeA could still ship 70 this part OF
the state as their shipments must
core through Oklahoma. and The
saae court has hald Chat shin-
meat which goes through another
slate IS interstate commerce and isl
not subject g the interference of
the state lis7 Y. S. CID.
rs prohibition law Is enacted
this question will not arise. as we
would have no licensed dealers.
Nhalher prohibition is initiated
ala passed or moi. | favor a jaii
sentence for every violation 81 The
liquor laws IN force.
Ia order TO give my reasons for
any position j. has been necessary
g 81 lengthy but ! trust my posi-
tioa IS clear
+ $40 81 the Inquiries was pro-
sa4 So g represent at5e
ifps lHe 14es who particle a
afe sufficiently representa- rs
ftoiiAe tlat laefe are other matters
nee besides his aIastire.
e- s4r f4rn ~ tfs.a