The Bismarck tribune., 1933-01-24

9th day Of November. 1932,--on that
memorable election dav-the prohibi-
ton law of our state was put to the
voter and by so doing was made to
fall; was repudiated by q big majority
OF the voters. This result represents
| a formidable but wholesome teaching
to be emphasized greatly.
The prohibition law was intended
, to do some good to the people Of the
state. True. 1t accomplished some
good. also In our state We are used
to talk about the earlier days Of the
development OF the Northwest as con-
stituting period Of pioneer-life Of
the settlers. II in those early days
there was a high power" there doing
the governing, 1t was perhaps the
cracking Of the whip Of some rough
necks riding on bronchos. Later on,
under the regime of the cowboys. the
general welfare of the communities
everywhere was all right. Speaking In
general terms. We may freely admit
that those fellows took pride In main.
tanning good order In their respective
regions without being forced to do 50
by the threatening club Of the state
law In those days the saloon, Of
course. was the first business to flour
|, ish steadily. Soon. however, more
new settlers came flocking into the
vast country and among them were
some who were used to living as de-
cent people in a decent community.
So. If not the men. then the women
took social matters in their hands and
ultimately supported q prohibition
law, by which law they hoped to
stamp out drunkenness in the COM
munity. They wanted to maintain "a
clean town." It Is to be admitted
that, to great extent, they succeeded
in curbing the sway Of drunkenness,
but there is absolutely no hope now
to extirpate drunkenness by the pow.
er Of a severe state law.
In any event. We live In another
time now than those first settlers did
SO years ago. Nowadays the prohibi-
ton rumpus has been grossly COM
mercialized and thus has gradually
become most dangerous abscess or
our body polite. Now it is high time
for our honest citizens to wake up and
get real good cure for this obnox-
ious social rumpuS. Well, the election
day of last fall has shown us clearly
that the people of our land did wake
up and that they are determined to do
something in this matter, too. II
something is to be done now as to q
law regulating the making of alco-
kolic drinks and the traffic In same.
We must keep in line with sound prin.
ciple. This principle wish to state
here as follows: the right Of citizen
Of the U. s. to make for his own use,
beer. wine. alcohol or any alcoholic
drinks shall in no way be curtai1ed
or abridged.
Assuming that by the PRONUNCIATION
of such principle as this some Of
our church people may in great trep-
idation look into our future, I shall
add to what is said above q few words,
particularly for their benefit. Shall
we look up to the Bible for solving
for us this particular social problem?
The Bible does not say word In sup
port Of our prohibition law. The
Bible is warning everybody not to
become winebibber. That this dan
ger IS existing cannot be denied. So
let every young man be warned:
either you conquer king alcohol. or
king alcohol will surely conquer you.
Be on the lookout. or you are doomed.
This Is your own personal problem;
nobody else can solve It for you.
On one Of its first few pages the
Bible, 1t is true. Is teaching Us Z very