The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-10-26
DRYS CHALLENCEW VETS
To PROBE PROHIBITION
Offer to Share Expenses Of I'm.
partial Investigation Into
License Conditions.

Aberdeen, S. D.-The anti-prohibi-
tionists who are doing business in
South Dakota under the name of the
South Dakota Local option League
have been making such extreme state
ments regarding the operations OF the
prohibition policy in dry states that
the drys nave made a public demand
that they join In an impartial investi-
cation OF their own charges and into
conditions generally prevailing in dry
states.
The drys offer to pay one-half the
expenses OF such an investigation and
the publication thereof. The chal-
lenge Is In the form of the following
letter written by Charles A. Howard
of this city, chairman of the state dry
campaign committee of the South Da-
kota Anti-Saloon League. and ad-
dressed to General Mark w. Sheafe.
president of the South Dakota Local
Option League. the wet organization:
The Dry's Challenge.
Aberdeen. S. d.. Oct. 6.
General Mark w. Sheafe, Box 81. HUI
ron. 8. d.
Dear Sir: At a meeting OF the
state dry campaign committee ! vas
instructed to write you as the presi-
dent of the South Dakota Local Option
league TO secure your cooperation In
an effort to provide the ~ of this
state with absolutely reliable and at
the same time u~nprejudiced testimony
concerning the effect of prohibition
where Il has been adopted.
I'VE assume hat your organization,
which we are assured in your litera-
ture Is composed OF prominent TEN
perance men, is opposed TO prohibition
not so much because you desire "a
looms as because of the fact that you
fear the results OF prohibition.
"Our understanding is that you are
of the opinion that prohibition cannot
be satisfactorily enforced and that II
committed In a state and that IL will
insure the financial and economic sit.
cation In the state. We assume fur
Their that II was beneficial 10 o state
and could be as well enforced as are
other laws.
I'VE recognize the fact that any
statement coming from either side In
this contest Is open to the charge OF
prejudice In the mind OF the conser
vative voter. In order, therefore. that
the voters OF South Dakota shall have
the facts from an unprejudiced source
we suggest that a committee com
posed OF three business men of the
state. one OF whom we will choose. the
second to be chosen by your organiza
ton and the third to be named by the
first two, visit such dry cities and
states that are within reasonable
reach of South Dakota. We suggest
Colorado. Iowa. Kansas. Idaho. Ore
gon and Washington. because these
states with South Dakota and others
make up the great west and northwest
and conditions are to a large degree
similar 10 ours.
This committee will be expected &c
make an impartial canvass OF the
business places TO ascertain what eff
feet, II any. prohibition has had or
NhC 0aoAA0C ~ ha0 VI
these states. with special reference Il
the volume OF business transacted
the percentage of cash business anC
the effect OF prohibition on collections
They will also inquire into the mum
Der OF new bank deposits In savin,
banks as compared with the numben
under license and also what class o
-.1~t, are v.aItrn vo~v l0w.rotto Thn
will examine the police court records
and report the number of arrests 70
, drunkenness and all other crimes. e.
we'll as the cost OF maintaining thu
police court and police force unde
prohibition as compared to license
They will also report concerning tn
number of poor being helped by tn
public and consult, not only leadinl
and representative business people. Blu
interview mayors, heads OF police de
partments, judges. prosecuting attor
neys, leading newspapers and an,
others except ministers who are In
position to give an impartial opinion
concerning the good or bad effects o
the operation Of the prohibition law
Upon the return OF the COMMITTEE
they will prepare a report and pub
lish the same In each Of the dali,
newspapers Of this state. The Ell
penses Of the trip and the publication
OF the report will be equally divide'
between our organization and tn
South Dakota Local Option league.
AS the time Is short for getting thi
information for the voters OK Soutl
Dakota, We respectfully request tina
you favor US with your reply not late
than Oct. 10th. Very truly yours,
&C. A. HOWARD,
president"
Although the above challenge wa
issued on Oct. 6 the vets have no