Fergus County Democrat., 1916-07-13

ness OF manufacturing and selling ii
is in itself unlawful.
ITO say, however, that she is op
posed to prohibition is to draw an un.
warranted conclusion both from her
teaching and her legislation. The
truth is that she is in favor of every
just measure that aims at the elimina
tion of the evils of intemperance.
whenever, therefore, the people in
their wisdom have declared prohibi
tion to be the most practical method
of dealing with such evils, prohibition
cannot but have her blessing upon it,
Happily, the measure to be submitted
to the voters of Montana this fall, by
excepting wine for sacramental pur.
poses, conforms to the constitution OF
the United States. which guarantees
the free exercise of religion.
Practical Side Of Question.
From the practical side, prob 'bition
is justifiable, if there is a need for it
and if it is workable. There is need
for it if more moderate means of regu,
lating the liquor traffic and suppress
ing or minimizing the evils that flow
from it prove Ineffective For pro-
hibition is an extreme measure, and
extreme measures are resortea to in
practical government only in extreme
cases. Thus, the American colonies
threw off the yoke of British rule only
when they could not obtain redress
for their grievances.
MANY of the states have recently
thrown off the yoke of the liquor pow
ers because it pressed too heavily on
their dearest interests, social, moral
and political, and because it refused to
be lightened by decent and reasonable
regulation, such as early and Sunday
| closing of saloons and the denial OF
intoxicating drink to minors and to
drunkards.
"A good many people are saying
that this was the case with the liquor
power in Montana and that the law
passed at the last session of the legis.
lature, imposing night and Sunday
morning closing was an eleventh hour
measure inspired by fear of the hand
writing on the wall and with the for
lorn hope of staying the wrath to
come.
Prohibition Workable.
Prohibition is workable if the pub
lie sentiment back of it is strong
enough to insure it's enforcement. II
not enforced it is positively Injurious
because, besides fostering intemper
ance, it breeds contempt of law.
i used to think prohibition Mon
tana was the dream of a few enthusi
asts. but | have changed my opinion
Hardheaded business men all over the
state who are by no means total alb.
stalners themselves are beginning to
say openly that they will vote for pro.
hibition.
"The economic, rather than the
moral argument appeals to them
They say, What good is liquor, any
how? Even when taken in moderation
it makes man less efficient in his
work. Besides, it is pure waste The
money that is spent for it could be
profitably used in developing business
that would benefit the individual and
the community and in securing pleas
ures and comforts that would make
life more worth living, materially and
spiritually. AS for the revenue neces
sary to run the government of city
state and nation, the people would be
able to furnish that in greater abund
ance If they were unable to waste theil
money on commodity which impairs
their earning capacity and strengthens
the power that weakens them.
Russia Will Stay Dry.
American travellers returned from
Russia say that country will not &c
back to the manufacture OF vodks
after the war for the purpose OF secur
ing the revenue needed to pay the I'M
mense war debt
J Both rulers and people feel there