The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-03-24
THE WET SIDE.
DOUBT SINCERITY
OF DRY LEADERS
BY F. l. Bradley. President Duluth Trade
Union League.

by r. L. Bradley, EreSldent Dululn Iraue
Union League.
There seems to be something radi-
cally wrong with the leading Pro-
hibitionists in every locality. but
whether the twist in their makeup is
cerebral or ethical is not only difficult
to determine but of no practical i'm
portance in the present juncture. The
fact that there is twist and the
courses of action and results to which
it leads are the only matters of con-
sequence in the case.
No reference is here intended to
the paid hirelings Of the Anti-Saloon
I league. Their status and the motives
which impel them are as we'll known
as it is that they would be as ener-
getic, as ferVid and as inscriptions
on the other side Of the question as
they are in the stand they have taken
if the money that is backing them
now were on that side and as easily
available to them.
The leaders Of thought and action
in the prohibition movement, the di-
rectors of it's tactics, the authors of
it's legislative Representatives, are
the persons alluded to, and their in
consistencies, vagaries and double
dealings are the considerations under
review.
Here in Minnesota they originated
and vigorously champiOned through
the legislature a bill submitting to the
people an amendment to the constitu-
ton providing for statewide prohibi-
ton of the liquor industry at a time
sufficiently remote to give the per-
sons engaged in that industry full OPP
portunity to prepare for the change,
if it should come. But as soon as
they got this bill under way in the
lawmaking body they brought for
ward a measure to make the state
dry at once by legislative enactment
BY this step they showed that they
are, after all, not willing to trust the
people or allow them a voice in set
Ting a question of vital importance
to them ALL
Surprising that they had legisla-
ture entirely subservient to them,
they sought to force their rule upon
the whole population, even though a
majority of the voters might be
against it, and to put it into effect
Immediately, no matter what business
disasters and personal hardships it
might bring upon our people.
That their second bill was killed in
the house of representatives does not
mitigate the perfidy of their intent or
remove from them the odium of hav-
ing acted in bad faith. It rather
tends to intensity both.
Persons of the same caliber and
turpitude tried to work similar
scheme in Montana. At the election
last November the voters of the state
put through a referendum law pro-
viding that the sale of Intoxicating
beverages should cease throughout
the state at midnight on Dec. 81,
1918.
The Prohibitionists agreed that it
was but fair to give the liquor men
time to prepare for the elimination OF
their business, and accepted the law
as proposed and advocated it's pas
sage with every show of sincerity and
good faith. But Immediately after
the election they started a vigorous
agitation to have the legislature enact
that the law should go into effect
eighteen months earlier than the date
fixed in it's provision.
In many places where they have
been beaten in wet and dry fights the
Prohibitionists have resorted to tech
nicalities, claims Of foul and other
subterfuges to get another trial Of the
issue at the polls. Yet, here in Du-
luth, where they won the last fight
they are abusively indignant at their
opponents for asking a resu omission
of the question to the people.
No terms are too harsh for the ex-
preston of their wrath, and no cpl
thets are too vile for them to apply
to their friends and neighbors who
disagree with them on this issue and
are only doing in mild and peaceful
way what they have frequently done
themselves with much bitterness and
noisy defamation.
Trade uniOnists are justly and
properly opposed to all sudden and
spasmodic action in reference to the
liquor industry. A large number OF
their members are employed in that
industry, and hosts of these have
families to provide for. Yet never
do the Prohibitionists take these facts
means Of furnishing employment fol
the men they wish to throw out Of
work at short notice or with no notice
at all.
These pseudo reformers profess
deep interest in the men who drink
especially those who drink to excess
but they never give thought to the
welfare Of those whose livelihood
they seek to take away, although the
latter may be and usually are among
the most orderly and law-abiding cit
liens of the community.
The prohibition pharisees seek tt
legis1ate a small part of the people
some Of whom are weak, some vi.
cious and some both, into sobrietS
and good conduct without any regard
for the vastly greater number whom
they thereby legislate into poverty
and possible restitution. This is an.
other evidence of the mental or mora
warp which aff1icts them.
! w. u. MAKES !