The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-09-14
Here's Why

Here's Why
In letter appearing in this issue
OF The Tribune, Rev. F. e. Logee
Bismarck minister, points to what he
considers some Of the defects Of the
initiated beer bill now before the
voters.
There are phases Of the letter
which might bear extended comment
such as the phrase sweeping us to-
ward repeal and all that It implies
as to changed attitude on the part
Of our leading dry advocates, but
that is not the purpose of this edi-
torial.
ALI we wish to do here is to ex-
plain, In SO far as it is possible to do
50, some OF the peculiar things in
the initiated beer bill itself.
In the first place, the beer bill as
presented to the people Is not the
same as it was originally conceived
by the group advocating it. The
charge that they were chiefly in
terested In commercial possibilities
cannot honestly be denied, but all
who know them concede that, along
with perfectly legitimate desire for
business opportunity, there also ex-
listed desire to protect the public
i interest and to divorce the beer trade
Is far from politics as possible.
Reliable information Is that they
wanted no beer commissioner, would
put the business under strict con-
troll without opportunity for favor
itism and individual caprice.
But II action was to be taken with
any speed it was necessary to have
. special election. All who read the
newspapers will concede that advo-
Gates of legal beer were the chief
sponsors Of the demand for q vote
this year.
In order to obtain special cleo
ton it was necessary to have action
by Governor William LANCER and
long conferences were held with him
on the subject.
It was during these conferences,
and as result OF the governors
express or implied demands. that the
beer bill was changed to include the
provisions now found In 1t. It was
he who insisted that there be a beer
commissioner. It was he who de-
manded the wide powers, particular
~ with reference to the cost of IL
cense, to be given that official. It
was he who emasculated the meas
ure Of its provisions intended to pro-
tect the public welfare and morals.
Why he did 1t is beside the point.
The fact Is that he did and the
sponsors Of the measure are not to
blame for 1t except as any man is
culpable who yields his better judg-
ment under pressure.
No one recognizes the deficiencies
Of this bill better than the people
who sponsored it. They are frank
to admit them privately, II not pub
licly. Many OF them will be among
the strongest advocates of needed
changes when the legislature meets
again. But they considered the
measure now presented as the best
they could do under the circum-
stances as they exist.
Any intelligent man who proposes
to sell beer must realize that the
best way to defeat his own ends is
to make the business, or anything
connected with 1t, stencil in the
nostrils Of the public. It takes no
long memory to recall the evils
which followed the affiliation Of po-
utics with beer before prohibition.
It needs no prophet to foretell what
the result will be II those evils are
permitted to crop up again. That
they will do so under present coudi-
tons is practically q certainty.
It would b sad business. there
fore, for the beer seller q well Is
for the general public. were the bill
now before the electorate to pass
without opportunity Of changing II
In the near future.
Nevertheless, the same conditions
which caused the beer advocates to
yield to the governor stu exist. II
We have no legal sale Of beer We will
have Illegal sale.
We are confronted BY . condition
not . theory. The best plan would
ssem to be to first get rid Of the boot
logger BY making the sale Of beer legal.
t1sn work nightly to correct the
evils in . rather poor piece Of legis-
1ation. y. sAAHNH
The fight viii be : continuing one
md III the intelligence and earnest
mess Of North Dakota's electorate Il
necessary to win It against the forces
which win be-indeed already have
Arrsyed on the side Of political
naanipulataon.
& Is hsre that ths dry forces can
10y a important part. Al who
~ II 4 .3