The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-07-20
MINNESOTA DRY AMENDMENT

passed, Immediately after the close of |
the war the whisky and beer business
will return to its former activity.
In reality, the agitation in which
we are now engaged is for the prepa- |
ration of this country for the condi- |
lions which will inevitably confront
US at the close of the war.
The question presents itself, DO
We want to take such action as will
safeguard our country from the evils
of the saloon after the restrictions
imposed by the eXigencies of the war
have been released? Do we want to
make the country safe for democracy"
1t is important that all people should
thoroughly understand the distinc-
ton between the effect Of permanent
prohibition by constitutional amend
ment and temporary prohibition as
war eXpedient.
3d.. AS to the Federal Amendment.
In addition to the foregoing legisla-
ton, congress on December II last,
submitted to the legislatures of the
several states proposed amendment
to the federal constitution permanent
ly prohibiting the traffic in liquor for
beverage purposes in the United
States. This amendment, IN order to
become effective, must be ratified by
the legislatures of thirty-six states and
within seven years from the date of its
submission. Up to date the legisla-
lures of thirteen states have ratified
this amendment. Georgia, the thir-
teenth state, ratified on June 26. 1t
will be necessary that the legislatures
Of twenty-three additional states rati-
| fy before December II, 1924, or all
| the work and effort which has hereto
| fore been expended to secure the ma
| tional amendment will avail nothing.
9Th. AS to Our State Amendment.
On February 10, 1917 the legisla-
| ture of Minnesota submitted to the
| people a proposed amendment to our
state constitution prohibiting the Ii
| Quor traffic in Minnesota, except for
| sacramento, mechanical, scientific and
medicinal purposes, after July 1, 1920.
| This amendment is to be voted upon
| by the people of the state of Mime
sofa at the General election to be held
November 5, 1918.
The eXpediency of injecting the
question of prohibition into political
discussion, during the existence of
! the present war is not now open for
discussion, because this amendment
was submitted by the legislature seven
weeks prior to the declaration of the
war with Germany, and because the
people of Minnesota will be required
to pass upon the question and either
adopt or reject the amendment next
| November We have absolutely no
discretion in the matter as to whether
we will decide the question. The mat
ter has been settled for us. The ques-
ton must be decided by the people of
Minnesota on November next.
In this connection it is exceedingly
important that every friend of the
cause of prohibition should be adj
vised of the peculiar provision of our
state constitution which in effect
makes failure to vote on the amend
ment a vote against it. In other
words, the amendment in order to be
carried must receive the affirmative
vote of majority of all people voting
at the election
Experience has shown that all PEG,
, pie who vote at an election do not
: vote on any one. question. For exam
pie, at the election held in November
! 1916, in Ramsey county, there were
1855 ballots cast and counted That
number of people actually participant
ed in the election by voting for one
or more persons. OF that number
only 37,961 voted for presidential cleo
tors; that is to say, 1884 people who
! went to the polls in Ramsey county il
November, 1916, did not vote for pres
= ident. There were 38,008 who voted
+ for governor, and 1,547 failed to vote
| for governor. If this had been on thC
; constitutional amendment it woult
have meant 1,547 votes against prohi
: bition, which were not in fact intend
r ed to be cast against prohibition, bu
, were so counted because of the failure
! of 1,547 to vote on the question.
e To take broader view of the sam
/ question: In the state of Minnesot;
p there were 416,215 persons who vote'
d at the general election in 1916. 0
!, this number 28,851 failed to vote TO
Y presidential electors. AS applied T
+ the constitutional amendment thi
r would have been 2s,S51 against th
4 amen dment, call attention to thes