Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-02-20
STATE TEMPERANCE UNION
IS AGAINST THE /. AND r.

Topeka, Feb. 19.-The State Tenn
perance Union has taken the field
against the initiative and referen-
dum-unless the prohibitory provi-
sion Of the constitution and laws
be clearly and specifically placed
beyond its reach. Every member Of
the house found upon his desk yes
terday a printed circular signed by
the State Temperance Union pro-
testing against the passage of the
/. and r. 1t declares that the init
iative means resubmission of the
|prohibitory amendment at once and
at every succeeding general election.
Dozens of members read the cir
culars yesterday and gave them con-
sideration. They were discussed in
the house and the act of the Union
in distributing them may have con-
siderable influence in the ultimate
action of the house upon the I. and
r. The circular reads:
"For thirty years the Union has
been fighting notwithstanding
successfully. The people Of Kansas
do not want resubmission; but they
are now in great danger Of getting
it through the initiative.
"The initiative not only means re-
submission once, but resubmission
at every general election.
"Under the initiative measure
which has passed the senate, 10 per
cent of the voters can, by petition,
and without the aid of the legisla-
ture, force a vote on the, repeal OF
the prohibitory amendment at any
regular election; or repeal of any
or all the prohibitory statutes.
"Oklahoma has prohibition in its
constitution, but it also has the in
itative and the state has been torn
to pieces twice now by an election
on the liquor question. The whisky
people there announce their inten-
ton to keep it up until they wear
the voters out!
"The adoption of the initiative
deprives us of all the benefits OF
constitutional prohibition. Even
should the bill be amended SO as
to apply only to statutes and not
to the constitution, we are still de-
prived, practically, of the benefits
of constitutional prohibition, because
If they repeal the statutes enacted
to give force to the constitution,
then we are powerless.
"The initiative destroys constitu-
tional prohibition. 1t is no right
that we should be saddled with the
expense and anxiety of statewide
prohibitory campaign every time the
whisky people can get the requisite
number of signatures!
eff the initiative must apply to
the constitution and laws of Kansas
relating to the liquor question, then
the majority of the men and women
of Kansas don't want the initiative.
They know that the liquor appetite
and the liquor interests are persis-
tent, and that the time will not soon
arrive when that appetite and that
interest cannot muster 10 per cent
of the voters.
"The majority of the men and
women Of Kansas consider the pro-
hibition question settled, and they
want 1t kept settled.
'The farmers of Missouri are hot
" demanding the repeal of the In
itiative, because under the initiative
they were recently subjected to the
expense and anxiety of a campaign
against the single tax; what do you
think will be the temper Of Kansas
people when they flnd-most of
them don't know 1t now-that the
initiative means constant resubmis-
sion2
"The Union most earnestly pro-
tests against the initiative unless
the prohIbitory provisions Of the
constitution and laws be clearly and
specifically placed beyond SIS reach.
eaTATW TEMPERANCE UNION.