The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-01-15

PROHIBITION Is
UP In LANSING
Rep. Dunn's Resolution Calls for
Submission of COnstitu-
tional Amendment
LEGISLATORS WILL HAVE
- TO GRANT, SAYS BURKE
Backing of Anti-SalOon League
Is Cause of State Wide
surprise
LION q SION Correspondent.

i
LANSING, Mich. Jan. l5.-When
Rep. Dunn, OF Sanilac, introduced a
Joint resolution In the house OF repre-
sentatives. yesterday afternoon, call
J ing for the submission or constitu'
tional amendment providing for state
wide prohibition, the unofficial an
lnouncement that the Anti-saloon
league was back OF the movement,
caused much surprise among both the
vets and the drys.
! Heretofore the league has stood
rather for local option by counties.
Evidently the leaders OF the organiza-
ton believe the time is now ripe for
change OF policy.
In regard 10 the resolution, j. r..
Burke, state superintendent OF the
league. said. yesterday:
This amendment Is the culmina-
ton OF the legislative plan the Anti
Saloon league has had in mind FOR
eight years While II Will undoubted-
/ ly be necessary TO urge some legis-
lation OF law enforcing character
upon the legislation IN the future, yet
the imbedding in the organic law, the
prohibition OF the manufacture anc
traficing in OF intoxicating liquor
marks the pinnacle OF our hope as a
state. Under this amendment. when
adopted, the state will no longer be
In any sense, in completely with the
infamous crime OF drunkard making
Making this part OF the constitu-
ton means possibly more work, but
It adds TO It's security. When so
framed the measure will have oppor-
tunity to vindicate itself and will not
be subjected to the changing course
OF partisan breezes.
"The question 10 of such supreme
| Importance that II should be removed
as a football from the arena and so
eliminated that contending' forces
shall not exhaust their energies each
year over its decision. The character
, OF the trafic Is so shocking to the
moral sense that no other hnal solu-
ton of the question Is possible.
This action will place Michigan In
line with the moral progress OF the
best In our civilization.
"Nc valid objection can be raised
TO this form OF procedure. IL Is In
harmony with the spirit OF the times
and true democracy II asks nothing
OF the legislature but to give the PEG
pie a square deal and fair chance.
II is a challenge to the apologists OF
the liquor trafhc To have the fight out
In the entire state. with all the peo-
pie as final arbiters. II Is the part
OF good governmental policy, as all
the serious objections to county local
option are largely met when the wet
borders are eliminated from the dry
counties.
Yes. we expect this amendment to
pass. Any man who votes against II
is left defenseless before the people
OF the state. Nearly every member
of tho legislature 10 declaring that he
n not the boss Of the people, but
their servant. He cannot maintain
that position successfully and vote TO
deny them an opportunity TO decide
this question for themselves. This
does not raise the question OF whether
license In right or wrong, but II SIM
piy raises the fundamental PROPOSE
ton Of whether the people OF the en-
tire state should be allowed 70 say
whether they think 1t IL right or
wrong.
some OF the Legislators might hon
estIy, in the interest Of letting the
people rule, hesitate to vote q statc-
tory prohibition provision on the
state. but no man can deny the peo-
pie this power and afterward claim
to trust and obey the citizenship.
There is only one force In the state
that will oppose this action. The
fight In this instance IL not between
us and them but between them and
the people. We do not believe there
are many men who will surrender
the trust imposed In them and betray
the people at the dictates OF the
liquor combine.
I'VE believe 1t viii pass because
is the very thing that nearly all the
legislators say they stand for-'the
peoples rule IL IL does pass IL SIM
ply turns the power over 20 the peo-
pie to decide whether they desire To
abolish the liquor traffic in the state
OF not. n II does not pass the ques-
ton will be whether they desire to
abolish those who refuse TO give them
the power to speak on II at all. They
certainly will abolish one or the other.
For legislator 10 vote against this
bill, II seems TO me. VIII justly invite
the suspicious OF the state In regard
TO his good faith In this entire mat