The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-02-01
LOCAL OPTION
IS ASSAILED BY
WA. BRUBAKER
Says II Puts Men To Sleep On
Question Of Destroying
Saloon
HOBSON AMENDMENT
IS WHACKED HARD. TOO
Retiring Prohibition Leader. al
Farewell Dinner, Predicts
Success For Cause

The Detroit Prohib!tionists gave Q
dinner In honor of retiring State
Chairman William A. Brubaker. In the
Taylor oolfenden cafe Friday
evening. Mr. Brubaker came 20 the
Michigan chairmansinp from Chicago
four years ago: he leaves to enter
the national work and will again make
Chicago his headquarters.
In q brief farewell address Friday
evening, he spoke OF the difiiculties
he had encountered in Michigan, chief
OF which he said was local option.
1.-THE option policy" he declared, is
an opiate that puts men to sleep on
the big question of the nationwide de-
struction Of the liquor trafic. II IL
the quintessence OF selfishness, prac-
teal embodiment. In the temperance
movement. Of the prayer of the sci.
fish man whose only petition to the
throne of Grace was: o Lord, bless
me and my wife. my son John and his
wife, us four and no more. Amen
make our county dry and let the
saloon devil get the rest Is the local
option plan.
"The most remarkable fact In the
temperance movement IL that the
liquor interests have captured every
plan OF the temperance forces to kill
their traffic, save one. Years ago, the
Temperance people thought they could
close the saloons by preaching tenn
perance' or the non-abuse OF liquor.
Today all the liquor organizations are
loud In their declarations for tenn
perance.'
"Next the enemies OF the saloon
tried to kill that institution by high
license and regulation. Today the
liquor men are all in favor of those
measures because they are the bull
wark Of the drink traffic. Then the
temperance forces demanded a local
option law under which they had the
power to take local vote on liquor
selling The liquor men have seized
this position also. and now all the far.
seeing men In the liquor trade are In
favor Of local option law. Local OPP
zion was the argument they used to
defeat prohibition In number OF
states.
Next state prohibition was hailed
as the solution of the liquor question.
And In the recent discussion in con-
gress on the Hobson national amend
ment the liquor advocates rang the
changes on the argument that this
was solely state question. and must
be decided by each state for itself.
II confidently expect that when q
real prohibition amendment to the
constitution is offered In congress. the
liquor advocates will seek to defeat It
by Offering an amendment worded
similar to or precisely like the Hob
son bill. and thus save for themselves
the right to manufacture and import
liquor for personal use, which right
the Hobson amendment expressly
granted.
There IL but one method Of deal
ing with the liquor trafic that the
liquor men have not stolen, nor never
will steal from the temperance forces,
and that Is q Prohibition party In
power to enact and enforce q prohibit
ton law. The old cry OF prohibition
doesn't prohibit will not be heard
when this comes to pass. Then when
the traffic In liquor has been destroy
ed, its power over the politics of the
nation broken; when the vast benefits
OF real prohibition have once been
enjoyed by the American people. It
will be an easy matter to amend the
federal constitution. and thus make
sure that this appalling curse OF drink
will never again sffiict humanity"
In conclusion Mr.. Brubaker predict
ed the speedy destruction Of the drink
trafic.
"All Anes." said he. ARE converging
towards that end. Good business de-
mands the destruction OF this traflc;
health movements demand Il; EN-.
cheney, conservation. medical science.
public safety. clean politics, tar reduc-
ton, the safety OF the nation demand
II. Look at Russia. Much more, how
peace. that we may be tho better pre-
pared for war, should 1t ever come"
Merritt A. Stipp, OF Indianapolis,
the new state chairman. spoke briefly.
81 wish to sincerely thank you. from
the bottom of my heart for the kind
ness you have already shown Mrs.
Stipp and myself" he said. 1T In
indeed a very great pleasure for me
to be with you at this banquet. I feel
the responsibility which Is resting
upon my shoulders as your servant,
and / trust we shall all enjoy the
blessings which are laid up In the
store house OF heaven for those who
earnestly work In this great cause.
am truly glad to succeed 30 worthy
q man as Mr.. Brubaker. He is true
as steel on our great question. May
the Ruler OF Nations guide him ~ he
enters into q larger field Of service.
This IL crucial period In the
great reform. Az q party, we have
measured up to the highest ideals.
We have stood for the best principles,
and many Of them have been given to
the people. The Prohibition party
has blaxed the trail for 40 years: Gre
ated sentiment, and piled up votes
against the legalized liquor trafno.
: May we keep lighting until victory
shall crown our charts. The success
OF our movement depends upon the
forcing Of the prohibition issue TO the
front, and making Il the dividing line
In American politics. This can only
be done by distinctive political &C
tion."
TIE PIN WORTH 500
LIFTED" SAYS HUTTON