New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-09-28
AS TO PROHIBITION

When the sun goes down on the
evening Of November sixth, the elect
crate Of New Mexico will have drawn
near to a definite settlement of one
of the meanest problems that ever
~perplexed a civilized people. Whis-
key? That is the question.
A resolution passed by the last
legislature submits a proposed
amendment to the constitution to
prohibit the manufacture or sale OF
intoxicants within the state, or the
importation for sale, barter or gift.
1t is not a so-called "bone-dry'
amendment that is proposed, but 1t
does have the power to put prohibit
ton into effect, provided a majority
of the citizens really desire prohi-
bition, and will demand an actual
enforcement of the law, once it goes
into effect. Notwithstanding the
strength of this proposed amend
ment, some of the legislators pro-
Tossing to be ardent supporters OF
prohibition, voted against the reso-
luton. They declared that the open
saloon would be preferable to the
conditions which they prophecy will
obtain under the operation of the
amendment. IF the legislators have
constituents soft enough to accept
these statements, The State Record
has no complaint to file.
There is little ground for uncer-
tainty as to the result of the vote.
The best informed men in the state
say that the amendment will carry
by a heavy majority. The only or
panization in evidence is the one OF
the prohibition forces. If there had
been an organization of the liquor
interests, with a fund Of $l5O,OOO,
there might have been cause tor
doubt and uncertainty; but there Is
no such organization. Rev. K. +. Far
lev, superintendent for New Mexico
Of the Anti-Saloon League, has the
only organization that is on the job.
His organization has extended to
nearly every precinct in New Mex
;co and he is still working day and
night to increase its effectiveness;
The federal act which prohibits the
use Of grainsin the manufacture OF
liquors has been a powerful inilu-
ence toward guaranteeing the pass
age of this amendment by the people.
If this war lasts two years-and
there is little reason 20 hope it viii
not-onIy a few remanants OF the
liquor traffic will remain. There are
a great many people who firmly be-
Iieve that liquor never will ashin
be manufactured in the United States.
Under these circumstances, tho IL
ouor interests do not feel Justified
in hazarding $4,000, much less $780,
600, to influence the result in New
Mexico.
When citizens begin to cast bal
lots on the morning of November
sixth, the Republican party will have
kept its pledge to the people OF New
Mexico. The party made the pledge
because the party leaders thought
the people desired to vote on the
question, and realized that when the
people desire to vote on any ques.:
ton, they have the right to do so.
The party leaders, through the con-
vention in August, 1916, and the last
session of the legislature, kept the
They kept the pledge be-
cause there was no valid reason for
denying to the people the privilege
of voting on an important question:;
and for the further reason that they
had no desire to break the faith.
II you desire to know which one
man, above all others, stood pat"
for the fulfilment of the pledge,
both in the spirit and to the letter,
ask r. E. Farley. He knows. He
does not mind telling.