The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-11-02

newspaper and also the local news Of
spontaneous origin published herein
All rights Of republication Of all other
matter herein are also reserved.
Little Hope For Repeal
Unless a great many normally
sound political forecasters are very
much in error, there is little chance
OF the prohibition repeal measure, on
the ballot at the election next week,
receiving the support Of the elector-
ate.
Their reasons vary from consider
alton Of the really strong campaign
made by forces opposed to the mea-
sure and an attendant inaction on the
part of its supporters, to belief
that the proposal is not designed to
meet with the widespread support
which any initiated measure must
have If it is to carry.
OF the two considerations, the
form in which the matter is pre-
scented probably is most important.
In addition to an appeal to the regu-
lar drys, the anti-repeal organization
is asking help from the moderate vets
with the contention that the proposed
letting down of all bars to the liquor
traffic is going much too far. Par
ticularly do they stress the situation
which could exist were any regula-
tory law subsequently passed by the
legislature, to be referred. This, as
everyone knows, would leave us with
Z legaliized liquor traffic, free OF all
restraints.
As result Of the ineptitude Of the
vets in presenting this kind Of a meas
ure whatever hope there was Of OBJ
tanning reasonable solution to the
liquor question in this state seems to
have gone glimmering.
Casual observation discloses to any
one that the average citizen has lit
tie pronounced sympathy for either
the active wet or the active dry. Many
people would prefer to vote for mid
d!e-Of-the-road policy which would
take into consideration the realities
Of the situation.
What these realities are Is appar-
ent to anyone who looks with intelli-
gent eye upon what occurs about him.
II the drys believe that the prohibi-
ton law as we now have 1t is either
enforced or practically enforceable
they are mistaken.
Anyone who wishes to do so can buy
liquor almost anywhere in North Da-
kota and In almost any quantity. The
flow Of illegal liquor goes on, dimin-
1shed only by the fact that large
number Of persons prefer to drink
legal beer. No taxes are received from
this illicit sale. Many persons, some
Of them teetotalers, would prefer to
rear their children In an atmosphere
which smacked less Of hypocrisy,
. which did not require the juvenile
mind to adjust itself to such fictions
as the prohibition law.
So much for the valid wet side Of
the argument.
The indisputable dry side is that liq-
uor is dangerous proposition. It very
often leads to debauchery, brutality,
I'll health and broken homes. At its
best, it is . thing to be summed or
taken sparingly. The very persis-
tence Of its existence without the law
shows 1t to be q naturally lawless
traffic. TO throw down the bars en-
tirely would be to invite ruination for
the individual and distress for the
body polite.
They take the stand that, under
prohibition, the traffic is at least not
Haunted Ia the faces Of those who
IRE against It.
All Of which leaves the citizen who
tavors legal sale Of liquor under prop
Or conditions holding the same sack
he has always grasped at the end Of
one Of these arguments.
On one side are the enthusiastic
drys. On the other are the vets, all
too often led by individuals whose
chief aim d to make profit from the
sale Of strong drink.
As result. nearly al Of the pro-
posals upon which We have been asked
to vote have represented extremes
The voice q tho average man Is not
heard il shaping such proposals. He
IS unorsanised and hence Is ineffec-
tive. The organized vets and drys
are aliks opposed to what . large
number Of persons want. In fact, the
probabilities are that : liquor sales
or control system Ia which the prof
it, went 70 the state. would be fought
quite Is bitterly BY some vets Is BY
the drys.
It may b. Is some suggest, that the
problem = insoluble. Certainly It Il
lnsoluble unless . wholly new ap-
proach to It Is made.
IN any event one thing IS certain
II the present proposal Is defeated
there Is little likelihood that the mat
ter will Be broached again in the near
future.
This Is the fifth repeal measure Of