The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-04-02
PROHIBITION AND BIG BUSINESS

ey Rev. Lance.
PROHIBITION AND BIG BUSINESS
Apropos of Mr.. Bryan's recent dec
laratiOn that the democratic party
can not afford to remain in partner
ship with the brewers, the Omaha
World-Herald calls attention to an
editorial of regret in the Johntown,
Pa, Democrat, whose editor is a rad
ical democratic member of congress.
The Democrat fears that an excursion
against the brewers would leave a
free field to the monopolistic inter
ests which radical democrats have
been opposing in the past. 1t says
THAT big business would be glad
to have his issue the paramount one
| is not to be doubted. With liquor at
the center of the stage, there would
be no room in the popular mind for
consideration of monopolistic combi-
nations and the other vital matters
which for a scfore of years have en-
crossed the thought of the country
and shaped the course of political
| parties. 1t is not for a moment to
be conceived that Mr.. Bryan is ami
mated by big business considerations
in espousing the cause of prohibition.
Nothing could be furher from the
fact. Yet the effect is precisely the
same no matter what the purpose or
the inspiration, the inevitable and
necessary consequence of forcing this
issue to the front in national politics
is to divert attention from all the 9TH
er great issues and so to complicate
the situation as far as the democratic
party is concerned as to make its i'm
mediate future extremely dubious"
The liquor business itself is one of
the three or four greatest special in
terests whose influence is felt in
American politics. Even were a war
on this predatory interest to give the
others temporary respite, the war
might be justified. 1t would be hard
to prove that any other interest or
combination of interests has a harder
grip on the throat of the American
people than have the liquor interests.
If they must be dealt with one at
time, there is much to be said for
taking upthe case of the brewers and
distillers first.
We do not know how it is in Penn
sylvania, where Congressman Bailey
VI luG JOnuSlOWll II lDOlIlONl ebJ AAfOos -
Nebraska the liquor interests have
planted itself squarely across the
path. It does not interest itself in Ii |
quor matters only, but obtrudes its
influence whenever it thinks its in
terests may indirectly and remotely |
be affected. If we try to deal with
any other special interest, we have
always the brewers to beat along |
with the rest. Study the position of
the so-called special interests in the
recent election in Nebraska and you
will find them standing together
Fight one, you fight all.
Congressman Bailey is an advocate
of the initiative and referendum and |
of all means of extending popular
control of government. The initia-
and referendum says not word
about liquor or the liquor question.
But whom did Nebraska have to beat
to get the initiative and referendum?
1t took an all-winter fight with the
brewers to get workable act sub
mitted by the legislature. Nebraska
has been trying to get an amendable
by means of majority
vote amendment clause. There is
not a word about saloons or the liq-
uor business in this measure. 1t has
no direct relation to them at all. But
analyze the vote against the majority
rule amendment in the last legisla-
ture and you find it,following the wet
and dry line with almost complete fl
deity The brewers are preventing
Nebraska from amending its consti-
tuition by safe and rational method.
Nebraska has come to a point
where there is nothing to do but to
take a year or two off for tn epurpose
Of putting the liquor business out of
politics. 1t is that or stop. The liq-
uor phalanx is drawn across the pro- |.
line of march. Nebraska
must either fight the brewers or re-
treat. These other monopolistic is
sues which Congressman Bailey
thinks will be delighted at such
policy are for the most part behind
and beyond the brewers here in Ne
braska. You will find the same leg {
slators for the most part furnishing
The votes for all in the coming ses-
sion The brewers are the guards
md tackles. The others make up the
1ackfield. How would Congressman
Bailey have us get at these other in
.erests without tackling the brewers?
With aeroplanes?
Mr.. Bailey is thinking primarily of
national issues, but he points out that
he democrats of Pennsylvania lost a
governor, a senator and six congress-
men by failure to get the liquor vote.
So it is plain that the issue cannot be
confined to the states. Apparently
Mr.. Bailey thinks the country can OBJ ]
ain free hand with its other ex- !
)loiters by giving itself over bodily
% the brewers. He will find his mis-
AXE AS surely as birds Of feath-
II flock together, he will find no such
livision possible in the ranks of the
special interests. The most he can {
lope for from such plan is to be !
double crossed,-Nebras- !
"a State Journal.