New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-03-02
THE REPUBLICAN PLEDGE FULFILLED

The passage OF the Dill liking NOVeIl-
Der 9th, next, as>the time for holding the
election on the liquor prohibition amendment
which was adopted some time ago, completes
the Republican legislative program on that
subject and fulfills the pledge Of the party
made to the voters OF the state in the platform
of the recent campaign.
The bill which fixes the time for the
election was not necessary to place the amend
ment before the voters, as under the c~onstitu-
ton it would have been submitted at the next
general election, in November 1913. But the
Republicans, having redeemed their pledge
we're perfectly willing to go further and pro-
vide that the extraordinary. or extra constltu-
tional machinery, by nleans OF which the vote
ers are permitted to pass upon the question
a tl1l! year in advance of the time at which
they were otherwise permitted to do so.
The passage of this special submission
bill took place after the meeting of the Re
publican State Central Committee, county
chairmen, and prominent Republicans from
all parts of the state, and its adoption was
affected to some extent by the very definite
and general declaration made by all speakers
and endorsed by all other participants in that
gathering, that the party meant Just what
it said in its platform and that that compact
must be carried out in both letter and spirit.
The prohibition amendment as it goes
before The people represents purely and COM
pletcly the consensus Of Republican opinion
and the party is willing to take full rcspon-
sibility Tor the measure. Several Democratic
members OF the legislature introduced more
radical measures. Some of them were sin
cere in their action, others were merely playing
to the galleries in their advocacy of certain
"bone-dry" proposals. Some Republicans too,
were sincerely in favor of a more radical "a
mendment, and some were not in favor of
any-hencc the result, a compromise some
thing which all legislation Of importance, or
which makes sweeping changes must be, as
long as men think differently, which they must
if they think at all.
The result is that the measure to be voted
upon represents the average sentiment Of a
greater variety of prohibitionists, anti-saloon
advocates, and people opposed to liquor pure
ly for economic reasons, than any other mea-
sure that could have been devised, and will
therefore command wider support than any
other when it comes to the test over its adop-
ton, or rejection.
If the amendment is adopted it will go in
to effect October Ist, 1913, five weeks before
the next general election.
Both parties were committed to the sub
of the amendment, and most of each
Loyalty supported the same.
Neither party is committed to support its
before the people and since the deci-
is to be made at a special election, at
there will be no candidates contesting
for office the question may be said to have
been removed entirely from party politics and
every voter may exercise his right, and voice
his sentiment on this great and important
without having his party loyalty cal
led in question. This is exactly the situa-
which the Republicans have been striv-
ing for and which thew have accomplished.
The Record does not believe that a vio-
ent and acrimonious campaign should be
by either side in the coming contest
over his question. It does not for one min
tie accept the premise that the use of liquor
S in itself essentially bad, or a crime. But it
believe that its abuse has lead to great
md irreparable damage to many individuals
nd communities through a long period of
ine. ,
1t believes that the demand for the elini-
latlon of the saloon has been brought about
because the saloon has in most instances been >
IN outlaw. Sunday laws have been passed, and
he saloon has either openly, or clandestinely !
,iolated them. Minor, and habitual drunk .
lrd laws have been enacted and the saloon =,
las ignored them. Anti-ganbling laws have
,een adopted and the saloon has operated a .
tiger. For these reasons and for the 7
urther reason that the dispensing of liquor :,
the saloon is an expensive luxury, tends to /
ause its excessive use, and entail an immense :,
economic waste of the time and money of :,
IS patrons. the Record will in common with :
many other Republican newspapers and citi- y
ems Of this state. constituting we believe at 6
east two-thirds of the party, use its best eff
ot toward the adoption of the proposed o
mendment and the elimination of this need =
ess and useless institution. ~