The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-10-03
Winfield Scott Hammond Democratic Candidate for Governor
His keynote Speech a Red Wing.
Opera House. before Audience Fifteen Hundred
Greeted with a Big Ovation
He Addresses More Than Twice That Number From Balcony the
Building Who Unable to Gain Admtance.
Enthusiasm for the Party perhaps
Before Surpassed in Minnesota

anu lulS ullSuC suggest tu0 inquiry
whether the evil of intemperance is
due so much to the fact that alco-
holic beverages are sold and used as
to the manner in which they are Of
fered for sale in this state. Option
is the right of a person, or number
of persons, to determine course of
action. Take town of 10000 peo-
pie located in a county with a total
population of 10000; who should
determine the course of action in the
town-those residing within it's lin
its or all those residing within the
county in which it is located? I'm
questionably those residing near the
town but without its limits, who
make it a business center and are
obliged to visit it frequently have a
direct interest in the conditions of
that town; those farther removed
from it and who, while in the county,
are not in the immediate territory
about the town, have a neighborly
interest in it, but not so direct an
interest as the others.
Two Sides to Question.
From the standpoint of option
alone, county option would be no i'm
provement upon our present system,
but would it have tendency to
promote temperance? Like every
other there are two sides to this
question-both should be considered
and, as nearly as may be, fairly and
without prejudice; and right here
let me say that one very desirable
qualification for governor, or other
public officer, is the ability to see
both sides of question and consider
it fairly and without prejudice. The
residents of town we'll governed
and we'll policed are capable of de-
termining for themselves whether or
not intoxicating beverages should be
sold in that town. The people of the
|
given the right to determine whether
or not liquor should be sold in the
county in any place other than the
cities and towns where provision is
made for an orderly and stable gov
eminent and an adequate police force
provided for the maintenance of Or
der and the enforcement of the state
laws.
Will Recommend 1t to Legislature.
Permit me to quote from letter
recently written by me to Chairman
Sortor and given publicity:
cat present there is local option,
and much sentiment in favor of sub
shutting county option in its place.
The legislative campaign this year is
being made largely upon this issue.
No member of the next legislature
elected by county option constitu-
ency and standing as county option
candidate will vote against it, nor
will one representing a community
opposed to county option and stand
ing as a local option candidate vote
against it, nor will one representing
a community opposed to county op-
ton and standing as a local option
candidate vote for it. Whether there
will be change in the unit or con-
tinuance of the present system will
be determined by the character of the
next legislature, and it will be, in eff
feet, decided as soon as the election
returns are known. No recommends
ton of a governor will make a man
pledged to support county option
vote against it, nor one pledged to
oppose vote for it. The voice of the
people is mightier than the voice of
a governor-when they speak legis-
lators must listen, and the governor
as well, and both bow to sovereign
authority. In November, then, the
electors themselves will direct the
course to be taken, and that course
should be followed by the members
of the state legislature and by the
chief executive.
"By some, it is said, This ques-
ton has no place in politics. The
answer is that it is in politics, and in
some sections of the state to the ex-
clusion of nearly everything else.
Among the advocates and opponents
of county option may be found ear
nest, thoughtful, patriotic and I'M
selfish citizens, and there may also
be found self-serving, ambitious, ad-
venturous persons who seize upon
popular sentiment as a convenient
vehicle in which to ride to office. The
first are in the fight for principle, the
others in the fight for booty.
Good from Temperance Agitation.
Much good, however, may come
from temperance agitation, whether
the question be in politics or out of
it. Speeches, debates, discussions,
cause men and women to think deep
ly upon the subject and to deliberate
over it and to Judge it. So long as