The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-22
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
Not Only In Wisconsin and Oregon. but
Also I'm kansas and Ohio.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. Your
editorial article on the Twilight OF Po-
ltical Quacks" neatly disposed of the po-
ltical patent medicine men in Wisconsin
and oregon, but have you not limited the
twilight zone more than the voters of the
country did on November 3? They dis
posed of the ghost dances In Kansas and
Ohio.
The twilight was like a sudden night
fall without any softenlng glow In the
buckeye State. and now the prohibition
lists are wailing over the arbitrary home
rule amendment which undoes the work
OF years In creating dry counties. They
do not hesitate to employ the old rdiculed
term OF personal liberty In their COM
plaint that the state Constitution now
arbitrarily opens dry counties to tie
saloon, which had been banished by the
voice OF the people In those subordinate
political divisions OF the State, and they
want TO know what has become OF home
rule when such outrages can be committed
on the counties by the vote OF the whole
State
But that was Just what the prohibit
tionists proposed to do in their amend
ment to the Ohio Constitution, to have
the voters OF the State take from the
cities of Cleveland Cincinnati, Columbus.
Toledo and other large municipalities the
power 10 decide for themselves whether
they would license and regulate the saloon
or abolish 1t.
In no State has this prohibition question
been so suuarely met as In Ohio, where
two contradictory amendments were
submitted TO the voters. one was for
Statewide prohibition the other to deny
the Legislature the power hereafter to
enact laws to take from the municipalities
the right to act on this question for them
selves. regardless Of the vote OF the
counties. The prohibition amendment was
Overwhelmingly defeated and the home
rule amendment adopted. The prohbi-
| tionists now complain that the Constitu-
| ton destroys the work OF years In en-
| larging the local option units, giving tho
counties control even over the muuicipalI-
! ties within fhsir borders. They deny that
| this Is "A constitutional function In that
| II takes political control from the coun-
| ties. and they will seek to have the
amendment repealed mex; year AMI pro-
| hlbtion amendment adopted.
| II would seem that after all the pro-
| hibt!onists are not different from other
| men. They are willing to have the State
| and even the nation assume autocratic
| power equal to that of the Car of Rus
STA In prohibiting the liquor traf'lc but
| they are opposed to any such exercise OF
| autocratic power against their PROPOSE
ton. In complaining that the home rule
| amendment adopted In ohio takes away
! the nome rule for the county as politl-
| cal unit. they answer all their appeals for
! prohibition amendments TO State and Fed
| eral Constitutions to take from the cities.
| counties and states IN" RICH, TO regulate
| their own domestic affairs.
| Great power 20 do or have done what
| one man wants done has always been ac-
| ceptable to that individual, hut he Is As
! insistent as his neighbour on having his
J personal liberty protected 10y the Govern
ment when the great power OF Govern
ment IL employed against him AMI his
| wishes or ideas as to what ought 10 he
| done.
| Il looks az II tho twilight Of political
| quackery had begun throughout the
| country as well az In Wisconsin. y.
/ WASHINGTON, November 81.