La Junta tribune., 1916-08-26
CARLSON ON WARPATH.
Proposed Beer Amendment Involves
Principle of Vital Concern to
People of Colorado.

Carlson arrived in La Junta last
Sunday evening about O'Clock from
Las Animas and delivered an ad-
dress at the union meeting held in
the Methodist church. The COVER
Mrs visit was entirely unexpected,
and only a few minutes advance no
tice that he would be in the city and
address the union meeting was pos
sible under the circumstances. Rev.
Payne received a telephone message
from Las Animas n few minutes be-
fore O'Clock Sunday evening from
A. j. Finch. president of the Anti
Saloon League of Colorado, announc-
ing that Governor Carlson had con-
cluded his speaking engagements in
Bent and Prowers counties, and
would pass through on the evening
train. and that II the people OF La
Juuta could use him he would be
very glad to deliver an address on
the proposed beer amendment"
The necessary arrangements we're
made, and many people were called
up on the telephone and notified that
the governor would speak at the
union meeting Owing TO the un-
propitious weather conditions, the
attendance was not large, but those
who had the pleasure of hearing the
governor experienced a rare treat
Governor Carlson confined his ad-
dress exclusively to the proposed
beer amendment" and not in n sin
gle instance did he refer to political
issues or the fact that he was a can
didate for governor. II was very ey-
ident from the vigorous way In which
he lambasted the people who are re-
sponsible for iritiating the beer
amendment" that he is seriously
concerned over the outcome. He be-
lieves that prohibition IS greater
issue this year than 1t was two years
ago. Then the issue was square
toed and the temperance people
were fighting for a great principle.
This year the issue is under cover
and the temperance people are on
the defensive. So far as the gov
ernor has been able to Judge the
masses are against the beer
amendment" and many of the tenn
perance people feel that because
prohibition has admittedly been
such a great success this amend
that worry or work will be unneces-
sary. In this the governor says the
temperance people are wrnog. Ey-
cry man who voted wet two years
ago will vote for the beer amend
ment," and make II point TO do SO.
The beer amendment" may carry
through the Indifference OF the
friends OF temperance. Colorado
voted dry two years ago by major
ity of ll,572. and all the good that
has been accomplished may be lost
through the Indifference OF the peo-
pie who made a good fight and won.
The beer amendment has been
Initiated In identical form In the
states OF Washington. oregon and
Colorado by the United States
Brewers Association OF America.
and they have campaign fund OF
81. 900. 200 which they propose
10 spend To have beer constitution
ally declared "A Notwithstanding liq-
uor. and II II carried every court In
the state would he bound under all
existing laws, without any constitu-
tional change whatever. To judicial
" declare II TO be legal and law
ful commodity. Beer could then be
sold In Colorado IN original pack
ages. nigh, or day m any grocery
store. or from wnrehous. or store
building. Just as sugar or flour Ia
sold. and no municipality would
have any power TO regulate It's sale
or exact license OF any kind, or
OF any amount whatsoever.
Governor Carlson wondered n
the people OF Colorado would ever
permit this piece OF infamy to be
woven into the basic fabric OF Colo
RADIO government through their In
difference. They might II they fail
TO register their vote against II on
election day. or by not voting one
way or the other as they had done
In previous elections. IN 1914. 2i2.-
900 people voted for governor.
while $4,000 Of these same voters
did not vote one way or the other
on one Of the laws that was submit
ted for their consideration. The gov
srnor WAS Of the opinion that II the
dry people 90 70 sleep this fall they
wiii wake ~ on the meraias after