The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1914-01-30
Emerson Branch. re. MAsTERToN, MFR.

been added within period of six years.
!: In addition to these there are eigh.
teen states in which major part of the
people live in territory made dry by loc-
al option, in which We may be assured
prohibition sentiment prednminat0.
IF the people in these states who are
opposed to the liquor traffic demand it
their legislatures will undoubtedly rati
fy national amendment
"When the people decide that it must
60 it will be banished.
'The most influential argument against
prohibition is thatit is not effective; that
prohibition don't prohibit.
"This is not basic or moral: the fact
Of failure to enforce is. no argument
against even the exped,ency, much less
against the moral issue involved.
Ultimately all questions must he SET
tied by moral standards; only in this
way can mankind be saved from self ef
facement. The liquor traffic cannot save
itself b, declaring that government is
incapable of coping with its problem. it
presents; when the people decide that it
must 90, it will he ban,shed.
I'VE are not discussing tie benefit or
justice of prohibition. but it is possbil-
ity and its probability in present circum,
stances.
y ''To US there is the hand writing on
the wall, and it's Interpretation spells
doom.
"For thus the liquor business is to
blame; it seems incapable of learning any
lesson of advancement or any motive
but profit.
60 perpetuate itself it has formed al
lance with the slums that repel ali con
clentious and patriotic citizens.
1T deliberately aids the most corrupt
political powers, and backs with all of
its resou'c ces the most unworthy men,
the most corrupt and recreant officials.
1t does not aid the publication of mum.
cipal, state or national administration.
"W hy?
Because it has to ask immunity for
its own lawlessness.
''That this condition is inherently and
inevitably necessary we do not believe
but it has come to be fact. and the
public, which is to pass on the matter
in it's final analysis, believe anything
bad that anybody can tell it of the liquor
business.
"Why? Let the leaders of the trade
answer.
Other lines of business may be as bad
or even worse but it not SO plainly in
evidence.
The case of the liquor traffic is called
for adjudication by the American people
and must be ready for trail.
Other cases may be called later, but
the one before the court cannot be post
poned. But, as in the past, the men
most concerned are playing for postpon.
ment, not for acquittal. 1t is because
they fear the weakness of their defense
that they fear to go 10 trial.
| AAoAO "AO OiAlOuo VI PIOpoIty 1uSOlV.
ed. and an industry of great employing
and taxpaying ability; but when the
people decide that tho truth is being
told about the alcoholic liquor trade,
the money value will not count, for con.
science aroused puts the value of man
above all the other things.
The writer believes that prohibition
is theoretically wrong but he knows that
theories, however we'll substantiated
may be overthrown by conditions, as has
often been done in the worlds history.
In this country we have recently
swept aside one of the fundamental
theories of the trainers Of our constitu-
tion in going from representative to di.
rect government; we are on the verge Of
universal instead Of male suffrage, and
there is spirit abroad which recks little
Of tradition, Of precedent, or Of vested
rights; and on liberty used licentiously
and destructively it will work short
shrift.
prepare the defence, friends; make
your case ready for court, the trail can
not be postponed"
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