Nebraska Newspapers

    THR OMAHA.
HASSANS ON PROHIBITION.
rromlncnt Oitlrcna of St. John's SUto
1'orcibly Eiptoss Their Vlev7&
A HARD BLOW TO TRUE TEMPERANCE ,
Tlin IjCKiiUzrd flnlonn Succreded by
the lo.WCAt 1)V | 'N IlllslllCIW HtUg-
nation and Other I Urn Ito-
Niilts A llcpiilMixc I'lolitrv.
"Owlncr to ho limit which had bren put up
on the ttnii' of the dobali'iN , nnd the omission
of the niondnp debate on Saturday , n number
of very Interesting and Instructive loiters
from clll/cns of Kmixns ns regards the liquor
tninic In ICansas and the effect of thn law up
on the material welfare of the state had nec
essarily to bo omitted. These letters uru well
worthy of itcmsal.
Miiny citizens of Nebraska are doubtless
icqtmlntiHl with ex-Senator .1. H. Sterling.
Ho represented l-'illmore and York countlo.i
In the Muiinto In 1SS7 , and was H slaunch sup
porter In that legislature of Senator Charles
II. Van U'yck. Ho win an uncompromising
advocate of prohibition and voted for statutory
ry prohibition in thai legislature , and his
vote Is also nn record In favor of a constlt-n
tlonnl nim-ndmcnt to prohibit the manufao-
turo nnd soleof liquor in the state of Ne
braska.
Mr. Stcrllnir moved to ICnnsos In the fall of
1877 , nnd IH still a resident of that state. Ills
tohtitiiony should therefore , have some weight
with the hlncero friends of true tomporance.
The other letters are all from loading clti-
ions of Kansas und men whoso veracity U un-
fcnpeachablo.
Flncrnnt Vlolntlons of tlio Ijaw.
Gooni.ivn , ICan. , Juno : ! 0. Hon. E. Hose
woter Dear Sir : I have resided In Ihls
counly filneo November , 1SS7 , and during that
time I have had the means of observing , and
have carefully observed tlio practical workIng -
Ing of the prohibitory liquor law , and its I
linve always desired to see the liquor tnilllo
eliminated from the land , 1 may have been
somewhat prejudiced In favor of the law , but
1 have endeavored to know the ronl operation
of the li'iuor business nnd true situation
under tbo law hero.
While 1 am well aware that many of the
dtlznnsof this state regard the law mid IU
effects very differently from what 1 do , yet I
feel warranted In frankly stating that the
nnlo of Intoxicants here , bus not been , und is
not In nny degree reduced by tbo law. The
Alleged friends of the law vociferously nsscrt
that there are no saloons in our midst to
allure tinyming nnd Invite the old into tha
pat h.s of Intcmpi'ranco ; that sobriety and
morality now obtains where tnteniporanuo
and vlu' formerly existed.
Such luisu'rllons sound well and I wlah they
were tnie , but I know the farts do not war
rant them. While you will rarely , if at all ,
BOO the sign , "H.ilnon , imported wines ,
liquors , " etc. , on the pluss front of any busi
ness lioiiso hero , you will , however , llnd in
Its stead "Tempcnmco bull , " "Billiard par
lor , " etc. , wherein can readily bo had all of
the meaner and villainous varieties of intoxi
cants.
Thcso "temperance halls , " etc. , flourish
hero , although they are nothing other , or bet
tor , than the lowest und meanest class of sa
loons and Rambling dens , nnd their true char
acter is well known. These places are open
to tbo young and middle nied alike , and nro
freely frequented by both. Intemperance ,
nay , ubsoluto drunkenness , obtains bore to a
prcater extent than lu towns of similar size
in Nebraska.
The "drug store" Is nn institution her * .
both multitudinous nnd pestiferous. It
flourishes like a green bay tree , and under
the law as well as in the eye-shot of ninny
ranting tomperauco work"rs and prohibition-
lata the "Kansas drug storo" is n reputable ,
moral institution , worthy the endorsement of
Itrdent temperance men and women , although
the fact is patent that its very existence offers
n premium to perjury and begets contempt
tor the law-
The ncnns employed to conduct the liquor
bualjuss , und tin liiotliod.i adopted by the
piUro.u of the bowl , to obtain it , nro moro
pernicious to tne individual nnd community ,
than is the worst feature of intemperance.
The liquor business has been and still is
being conducted exclusively und with n most
flagrant disregard for the law. and it is usu
ally conducted by parties wholly irresponsi
ble , bolh morally and financially , so that
neither the victim of the tradlc , his family
nor the community lias any remedy against
the dealer for any damages resulting from
bis illicit nnd dangerous business. In other
words , the community hero sutlers nil the
ovila attendant upon the presence of thn
most depraved phase of the liquor tranic ,
without deriving any benefit from , or any
protection against its presence.
There are at this time , nt least five differ-
, en places In this city , where intoxicating
liquors are extensively dispensed , and of
course none of them pay anything into the
public treasury for the privilege of conduct
ing such business , neither do they give any
bond lor the protection of the individual or
community , for damages resulting from tbo
liquor business.
The condition of things hero is n fair Index
to the operations of the law generally. The
sentiment of the public generally is not In
favor of the cnforcomentof the law , and It Is
, not enforced , neither Is there much , If nny ,
linno-st effort made for its enforcement. The
prohibitory law has bred nn indifference for
the solemn sncredness of nn oath that Is
simply appalling , nnd this deplorable feature
Is increasing In enormity ,
The Judiciary of the state Is able , honest ,
and very numerous , mid 1 might ndd , expen-
BIVO. Thirty-live district court judges , at a
Biliary of if..OUO each and three supreme court
judges and three supreme court commis
sioners , nt a salary of 1,000 each. Kvery
county has a county attorney , whose special
duty it Is to see to the thorough enforcement
of the prohibitory law , yet the law Is openly
and boldly dcilca , und daily most ilugrautly
violated.
The county attorney of this county is n tee
totaler , an ardent temperance advocate , and a
consistent member of a Onristian church.
Yet , only ono party has ever been convicted
In this county of a violation of thoprolabitory
law , although moro than n score of persons ,
during my residence hero , have openly boon
engaged in the liquor business In this city.
Yours , etc. , J. H. SrEm.ixa.
A Chapter or Horror * .
WASHINGTON , Kan. , July -I. The issua of
constitutional prohibition In Nebraska Is
watched lu this stale with much interest.
While Kansas has been under such laws since
1SS1 , there have been only six years of practical
tlho
cal enforcement of the law in any of the
touns and cities of the state , nnd it can
safely be said that It has never been enforced
in the larger cities. During the months and
years devoted to the work of closing the open
saloons , no feature of prohibition was noticed
beyond the tenacity with which the liquor
seller clung to his business and the fact that
ho wn u rebel against law. Ail good citizens
gave aid m enforcing the law against Iho sell '
ing of liquor , nna it can safely bo said lat
in 1 5 thu open saloon , except In the ; er
cities , was a thing of the past.
lu Washington the closing of the
last saloon was hailed us the
du\\iung of the millenlum. The after condi
tions ' of prohibition were as yet unfolded.
'U lion they began to develop , the republican
part } f this state was tied hand and foot to
the iir liibition machine , and all the evils of
the drink habit were relegated to lawmakers
Y.for iviiu-dy. Temperance organizations no
longer met to call in the young man and point
out the evils of "putting that iu the mouth
which stenlelh away the brains ; " hoer
druiiKiinl was no longer urged lo reform for
his snko and the sake of his family : but they
met to roolvo In favor of more strlngcrt > oyg
ismtmn. to select delegates to
seml-polltlcn-
conventions , to demand the selection MlOl 1
county attorneys nnd executive and judlclalf
oUU-crs.
This may seem nn ultia statement , out ills
fact not only true of Washington , but
equally true of all of Kansas. The women
of Kansas , untrained In btatecrnft , unread in
history , wora given municipal franchise nt
the demand of the so-called tempenmco pee -
ple that the law might bo enforced and
sobriety forced by statute.
What the result has been is n chapter of
horrors to the man or woman possessed of
Average auinou sensibilities. I euro nothing , I
for man , In the aggrcgato , rr b * bus pwso
ths nrlmo of Hfo-hU hiiblU hnv bocoms
fixt il , nnd whether thny are good or bad they
arosoldom clwngcdbv moral Mansion , ivcver
by human statutes , Hut tlio hoe | of Kansas
nnd of the tuition Is In the boys and younj ?
men. Now. whnt Is the olTcct of prohibition
on the boys I No glided sign attracts them to
Invest n nleki'l at a pollshsd bar. Everybody ,
In Washington at least , ndmli.s Ills wrong to
have saloons for Iho nalo of liquors nnd that
temptation In removed. Hut the buys do see
business men nud farmers receiving kegs ,
eases and Jugs of all kinds nf liquors from the
railways and express companies ; they see
many n suspicious box delivered to professed
abstainers and they learn that Mr. X and Mr.
Y and Mrs. 7 always have ll.iiors | In the
house for "niedlenl ' and
purposes'1 they occa
sionally nntlco that the idleged Illness of
these good people .seems to require Inrgwdose.s
frequently ; they see starts , bums , laborers
and oilier. * "chipping In" and sending away
for raso * , kegs mid jugs which duly arrive
and are opened and consumed in slnbles ,
celhirH , alleys , and olher convenient places ;
and the re.sull is that the boys ralso n quarter
each and they send for cases and Jugs. The
woods along Mill Creek could tell torrlblo
stories of debauchery on the part of boys
from fourteen to twenty years old , under
cover of night. Kansas is today under an
era of frco whisky and it Is beginning to bo
rceoi'nUed by hundreds and thousands of
men who voted for the prohibition In good
faith. Then'Is no way to stop the Inflowing
current of intoxicants which is spreading to
thi ) homes and llroilde.s. The country Is full
of misguided women who have taken up Iho
crusade and are aided and abetted by whlto-
haiided men who obtain innney from the
prcjiidicus of humanity iwnlnst the mm
tnilllo. Thn cry is legislation ! Knrlslntlon !
Woman attend meetings In the Interest of
more leglslatlm ! , Hpeiul linlf thn night dis
cussing ways and means to punish JolntisUs
and bootleggers , while thmr sons are as
sembled about a nocturnal co-oporntlvo beer
keg accumulating a Jag of monumental pro
portions. Tell them of Ibis and llioy will
promptly call you n liar , and point with
pride to the fact that not n saloon can bo
M. lit ti < 1 lit Wiishlnton. (
Whether this sort of thing U common to
other prohibition stales or not I do not know ,
but It BCOIIIS to mo that It must result the
same everywhere. It Is a natural
and logical result of prohibition ,
Homo of our people claim that
the same facts woula exist under llcenso.
They could not. Minors would be barred
from the saloons , and not a wholesale house
or brewery I" the country would ship a single -
glo package of goods in competition with u
local saloon nny more than a wholesale gro
cer would accept a single order In competi
tion with u nitnil grocer.
Sunday "beer drinks" nro another feature
of prohibition. Haifa do/en farmers "chip
in" and buy two or three kegs of beer and
Ihowiinlo neighborhood meets nt some ono
house and have a Sunday social with beer
and whi.'dcy in the chief feature. It Is no un
common thing for half a doron of these meet
ings to occur within ten miles of this town ,
and in the ngirn'gnto the beer nnd whisky
thus drank would stock two saloons a week.
The stuff coiiuw every day , but Saturday is
the big day. 1 have seen the time when a
freight i-.ir was added to the passenger train
f roaiV > more to Concordiii in order to carry
the express packages of liquors. Tlio worst
foatwo about tlio wlmla matter is that while
every town along this brunch in Kansas is
decreasing in population , this Jug business is
Increasing.
Prohibition in Kansas has made perjurers
bv the hundreds , and liars by the thousands ,
liven In so I'lw-abiding and moral n county as
Washington it is almost impossible to convict
n whisky seller mid that In spite of the re
versal of all rules of criminal prosecution , yet
this county has plenty of men and women
who freely write outsiiffc of the state that
liquor drinking has largely doereaso.l under
prohibition and that the law la rigidly on-
forced.
The experience of cities nnd the absolute
failure to enforce the law is a matter of his
tory so well established that 1 need not say n
word about It , but I wlnh to refer such Ne
braska voters us are not already llxed in tliclr
convictions to the things sot forth herein as
true ; and for proof I ask them to coino t this
city of l(12'l ( ' people and stay one week nnd
keep their eyes open , asking no questions ,
taking no second hand opinions.
O. B. HATUWAT.
Will You Uo It ?
WICHITA , Kan. , Juno 20. Prohibition does
not mean tomporanco. If the people of the
great state of Nebraska desire to lose all
control ever the sale of intoxicants , lot them
vota for prohibition. If they desire free
whisky , lot them vote for prohibition and
tholr desire will bo accomplished. If the
people desire to remove the licensed saloon
and have two or moro dives take the saloon's
place , where boys us well as men can go and
drink the vllo liquor kept In these dives , lot
them vote for prohibition , and all this and
moro will be yours to enjoy. If It Is nu In
crease of taxallen that the people are longing
for , let them vote for prohibition. If the
people of Nebraska desire to stop all immi
gration into their state , lot them vote for
prohibition anil you will not bo bothered
further with looking after immigrants.
If It is the wish of the people to have a
host of soft-handed cranks , who were never
known to produce anything , not even a house
to live in , to control their great state , vote
for prohibition. If the people desire to re
move the saloon from where it now is to the
collar of the average prohibitionist , vote for
prohibition.
Much moro could be said by any person
who has carefully Investigated the working
of prohibition laws iu Maine , Iowa nnd Kan
sas , but I expect I have covered all the space
I should In your valuable paper.
paper.W. . It PAY.VK ,
A Terrible Blow to Tenip.Tanoo.
WICHITA NATIONAL BASIC , WICHITA , Kan.
June 20. Prohibition Is not true temper
anco. There has been no Good Templar or
blue ribbon society , no true tompar.inco loo-
lurcrin the stole slnco the law was enacted.
Fanatics , relying entirely on the strong arm
of the law to reform people , have been how ,
nnd the result U there are fewer teetotalers
than before Ihe law was enacted. There Is
moro drunkenness in the home , as can bo
demonstrated by the Irall of lx"or and ex
press wagons all over the lowus of Iho slate ,
and Iho ofllco , and Iho shop , and the hotel. It
has become far moro respectable to drink in
Kansas than before the law. Seven-tenths
of the ofUt.'olioldors elected on a ticket that
had proiiibition in the platform , celebrate
every event of their lives by a drinking bout.
There has been more cant , moro hypocrisy ,
moro sneaking , moro perjury , moro lying ,
moro moral depredation than from any law
that any people were over cursed with , and
has cost the state of Kansas as it will cost
any state lhal adopts it , hundreds of mil
lions of dollars , and cursed the. state besides.
Prohibitionlits claim that all the iiiunuyed
clement is with them , bo far as the agita
tion of the prohibition question in Kansas is
concerned this is not truo. There has not
boon a speech made , with one or two excep
tions , in favor of prohibition in the state of
Kansas since the agitation for re-submission ,
that was not made by a preacher , who was
ready at any moment to swap the pulpit for
some position or ollico that , paid n larger
salary. The leader of prohibition in Kansas
is nn ex-preacher now holding a federal posi-
tlon that pays him 11,000. Tor years ; ho was
n political striker , a lobbyist , and the most
untruthful man in the state of Kansas. Ho
never opens his mouth on prohibition that ho
docs not wilfully and knowingly utleras
many falsehoods as ho thinks Ids listeners
will swallow. Hov. B. Kelly Is his name. No
practical , fair minded man , who has lived in
a town of ever S.CHX ) people in ICansas
can truthfully claim anything for prohibition.
I do not think that a dozen op3ii saloons uro
capable of the serious Injury of one secret
Joint. Minors , lewd women , thieves nnd
thugs alike can visit thorn with impunity.
The proprietor , even If disposed , dare not
open his mouth n he is afraid that if ho
offends nny of bis visitors they will enter a
complaint against him. But ho has llttlo If
any compunction of conscience in the matlur
as'ho is an Irresponsible personal all times
nnd prefers to do business upon the prohibi
tion plan and votes that ticket because It
allows him to do business on lltllo or no capi
tal and no license.
A. W. OLIVER , vice president.
ftuIiied Business In Kansn * .
Kan , , June U , You ask my
opinion of prohibition. It 1s beyond question
the greatest delusion of the nineteenth cen
tury. The idea of putting on end to liquor
drinking and all its attendant evils moots the
approval of all right thinking people nnd BO
take * possession of th Intellects and
menU of many good Chrtstlnnt that they
have come to regard it as n part of tholr roll-
glen nnd would b greatly shocked If told
hat prohibition was uot a bible doclrlua.
iVlillo limy ndorolt as though It wai ono of
tin ten commandments , they nro totally blind
towl the fact that thorti nro two places now
tvhcro liquor Is sold to ouo before prohibition
came to curse our Mate , True , thd
word saloon lint been changed to "lunch
counter , " " .shortordorre.staiirant , " "meals nt
all hours , " nnd it multiplicity of Jiumc.s , Iho
ncanlng of which Is well known to tlio In.
Hated , but the advantngo of tlm change has
lover been apparent to IUP , ns the business
, -arrlod on under cover of those various
mines I * the fuimn as before the name was
changed. Indeed , 1 think the open saloon
preferable to the sccrut dive. In thu ono
case you can control the business and In the
other you cannot. Hoys nnd habitual drunk ,
arils cannot obtain liquor over tin open bar.
while nil can obtain it In the "Joint" or secret
dun. Then the revenue derived from Iho
regulated or licensed saloons helps to bear
the burden of municipal taxation and to pay
thooxiH'iiscslneurrcd In prosecuting violator *
of the law. There Is another phase , or
rather result of prohibition you would hardly
hnvo suspected. 1 tin tlio number of prlvato
collars this law converts Into veritable wlno
cellars. It Is snfo to say that fonr-ttfths of all
tlm men in Iho United States occasionally
Urink a glass of wine , beer , nlo or possibly
whisky. It may not bo once In n year , or It
may be once In 11 vo years , but my experience
isof that most people sometimes taken glass
of somci kind of liquor. This class , while
resjiectablo and temperate , will have wtr.it
they want , and In order that no embarrass
ment may arise they constantly kcvp In steen
In their cellars n vuriclv of such liquors ns
nro mosl palatable to thorn. Being constantly
In the house with It thu tendency nnd tompln-
lion < is to drink more than formerly , when
they slipped into a saloon only when a strong
craving drew them thero.
Hut It Is when you consider Its effect upon
the business interests of the state thnt the
average , man becomes deeply Interested In the
matter. A largo class ot Industrious , thrifty
and altogether deslniblo people can never bo
Induced to voluntarily settle iu a prohibition
state. From my own exiwricnco of its work
ings I would never scttlo In a state where
proiiibition laws prevail , unless I was assured
ofar their speedy repeal. Yon can have u o great
and influential state without ouo or more
largo cities or business centers. To build
and sustain a largo citv in a stnto where pro
hibition prevails is nn impassibility , liberal
customs and laws attract population to cities
cuM prohibition drives population away.
Massachusetts caunot kocp prohibition anil
Iloston ) too , nnd so prohibition had to go.
Providence is of moro vnluo U ) Ilhodo Island
than prohibition and prohibition had to go.
Philadelphia Is worth more to the stnto
elm Pennsylvania than prohibition
tint ! prohibition wns voted down
there by isii.noO majority. In Maine , Ver
mont , New Hampshire , Iowa , Kansas and the
Dakotas , no ono of wliich contains n city of
over llfty thousand , the incubus i.s still bear
Inst down anil supping the energies of the
state , and virtually Impoverishing tlu-lr pee
ple. If you people in Nebraska want to
know all thi1 be.uitlos of prohibition , In heav
en's name come and live in some city in Kan-
Has for four or llvo ycnra and you will have
unmigh'of it.
But in Kansas the republican party com
mitted itself to prohibition boforo" know
ing whnt a monumental humbug It
was. The churches , most of them ,
did the same , nnd It has boon preached so
much , that , as I said before , many good people
ple consider it of divine origin , if they wcro
told that Neal Dow of Muino nnd John Ptitcr
St. John of Kansas had each made comforta
ble fortunes nut of this hobby they would not
bcliovo it , but brand it as an invention of the
liquor Interests to injure prohibition.
A. T. O.\lil'K.Miit.
ritoumiTioN SIIA.U.
Kx-Oovernor Knbliisou of Kansas
MiiUo < 9 a Stronj ; Arraignment.
A short time ago ex-Governor Koblnson of
Kansas published a letter In the Kansas City
Times criticising the prohibitionists and say
ing that liquor could bo openly purchased In
Lawrence , Kan. A number of prohibitlon-
Isls 1 replied lo Iho article attacking Governor
Hobinsou because ho had the manhood to
speak the truth. To these attacks Governor
S'li
Hobinson replied as follows : "Tho law so far
concedes that every citizen of sound mind and
mature ago has a right to buy what ho pleases
a nd all bo pleases. Does the law make pro
vision for educating these old and young men
as to the right mid wrong , proper nud im
proper use of liquor ? Does it provide for
temperance organizations and temperance In
struction , such as existed under local option J
No , none of these things nro provided or con
templated. How , then , does this law propose
to make temperance mcnl There is but ono
way and that Is to make it impossible for
liquor to bo bought by punishing its sale.
In other words , so lar ns the law is con
cerned and so far as prohibition preach
ing and talking Is to have any effect , It is to
deprive the people of the power to got intoxi
cants , or deprive them of free ngcncy in n
purely personal matter of liberty and the pur
suit nf happiness.
'Tho law of the universe has mntlo the de
velopment of character In any direction with
out Irco agency an imposlbility , as nil thought
ful men well know. If so , then this law must
bo nullllled or failure will result.
"To test my sincerity I will agree to glyo
to any citi/.en in Douglas county $1K ( ) who will
bring proof that there is any man of sound
mind in the county who can not get all the
liquor ho can pay for , from a bottle of beer tea
a bottle of whisky , und hn need not apply tea
a 'supremo court saloon , " cither. Then
where is your prohibition , if I am right *
"D. White says ho has resided inLnwrotioo
for ten years nnd knows of no drinking sa
loons. I recently made the statement to Mrs.
A. Diggstlmt liquor was openly sold here.
She concluded to investigate tho' matter mid
somodozen Jointists were found without dilll-
cully mid convicted. I don't like saloons nny
better than you do , especially I dislike these
unregulated saloons thnt know no law ; but
really what can we do' You say there are
none , as Mrs. Diggs isaid. Well , whnro ig-
norniico is bliss it is folly to bo wise , and I
wish I cnnld biilioyo as you pretend to , but I
hud a little experience A'hich 1 can't qiiito
get o\vr. A friend of mine lost his balance
and fell overboard in these saloons nnd was
there forboiiiu two or three woolcs before I
found him. 1 took him homo and after about
ten days ho recovered so as to give n report of
him > 2lf. lie had personal knowledge
of seventeen saloons and iiifonn-
allen of some eight others. Ills state
ment is corroborated by an ofilclal , a drinking
man , besides abundant Indications from gen
eral appearances. It Is true some have been
prosecuted and convicted , but for what good !
There are Indications of there being saloons
enough to supply every citi/un of Lawrence
th.it will patronize them. To prosecute only
piles up costs for the taxpayers to meet and
does no good.
" 1 have seen that a coininitleo of flfly has
been appointed to light the decision of the
United btates supreme court , and they have
commenced several cases which lawyers say
will cost the county 815,000 to prosecuto.
Some of this committee don't want their drug
business interfered with , nud some want to
make political capital lor Iho republican
party and have old Douglas county toot the
bills. Yes , Iho people have seen what has
been douo ut these so-called temperance
meetings , but they have not learned of a
single man or boy who could not got all the
intoxicating liquor ho can pay for In Douglas
county without going to the original package
saloon.
" 1 have heard of the wry faces and Icrrlble
slralnlng nt these meetings at the llttlo orig
inal package , while whole wagon If not car
loads of liquors are unloaded at the depots
and delivered at Iho saloons , men and boys
club rooms and privnto residences all about
town. The lltllooriginal package gnat causes
many contortions , while carloads are swal
lowed at u gulp and lips are smacked for
moro.
"Yes , I hear of frequent meetings In parks
nnd churches and Women's Christian Tem
perance union parlors and of much prohibi
tion , not temperance , lalk , yet the first veur
of so called prohibition seventy Good Tem
plar's lodges expired nnd 3,000 members loft
the order , while soon after nota lodge could
bo found In the state. In 1881 nearly all the
young , and many of the old , had their names
on the tolal abstinence pledge , wbllo for
years the pledge has been unknown , and It is
fashionable for young men of moans to tipple.
A young business man of Topeka , graduate
of an eastern college and universally popular
and a favorite , declares ho knows not of a single -
glo lotal abstainer among all th young men
of his acquaintance. An old resident and
highly esteemed railroad employe saya that
the parents und community would bo as
tounded if they know how much liquor was
shipped by express to young men and boys
for their clubs and penon&l use. "
FREE WHISKET IN DAKOTA ,
Thi Iffoot of Trohlbitlott" fa tha Block
Ullli District De aib4
SALOONS RUN WiniOUT REGULATION ,
Original Pnotcnfjoi flouneo
An Omaha Man Tolls His Ejtp r-
ienoa on a Visit to Hot
Spring * .
HoTBr.imo * , 8. D. , Jnly 18. To the Ed
itor of Tin P.HNI Dakotnni have watched
with Inlonist ths great debate nt Bealrlce
on Iho question of prohibition or high license.
A visit to the ll.ack . Hills at the present time
would con luce nny unprejudiced person Hint
Urohlbltio.i Is u dismal failure In that part of
South Unkiitu , Original package houses nnj
lu full billet all i vcr tlio country nnd whisky
of the poorest qi.iillty . Is moro plentiful than
over known In thu history of the Ulach Hills.
Leaving out the matter of revenue , Iho coun
try is u utv.it loser because of Iho eiillro Inn-
blllty to iv iiliit'- the sale nnd enforce pollco
regulation thereof. Under our former sys
tem of high lU'insp saloonkeepers were pro-
blbllod fivin selling to minors , drunkards ,
etc. , umler Hovcro penalties. They worn
under bonds to keep an orderly
house and wcro generally prosecuted
if the law was not compiled with.
Kow if tli.TO . is nny law tha prohibition
oflleers fail to enforce It.
1 venture the st iinniem that in the city of
Hot Springs Ihcro is twice as mucli liquor
sold as there \viis lioforo proiiibition , and till *
too , in ouo of the'K-it communities in South
Dakota , a community of colleges and
churches.
If Nebraska Is wise she will hold to her
high license system , under which you can
control the evil and bring It under strict
pollco regul itions Have your state from t ho
evils of five w'lisky which Invariably fol
lows In the wake of prohibition. No honest
man will ilrny tlm evils of Intemperance , but
do not eniict nlaw or amend your constitu
tion wheroiivyou will oi > cii Itio Hood-gates
for free whisky , o.or which you will have no
control and leave lou powerless to stay its
devastating iulluunco.
I speak whereof I know. Ad < x member of
the state semite of South Dakota of the
session that passed the present prohibitory
law of the stale , 1 am in a position to know
that the nntii-ipatluiis of the friends of prohi
bition have not bei-n reali/od. They were
honest but w < > ro mi - ' ' .ken. They have found
out that no l.iw , how vcr severe , can change
the appetite f.ir drin c or reform n drunkard.
Only the pnu or of Vmighty ! ( Jed and the de
termined will of t . poor unfortunate will
avail. Kiluc no the ' > iys to shun all evil nnd
inculcate pure mor.iN and success will crown
the effort. Nebraska should uot make the
mistake thai South Dakota has.
A. S. STHWAUT.
SX.lZ , l'.llJiUIKH Si.UIl'.lXT.
Scenes In I'roliltiitlon .South Dakota
IIH Sl-OIl llV 'III Ollintinil.
HOT SI-KINGS , S. D , July 0. To the Editor
of THE Bii : : 1 spent the Fourth of July
hero In this gloriua' prohibition state of
South Dakota , and In ompnny with several
Omaha men wo follow' d the crowd , and be
fore the day was over -nw mora moil beastly
drunk than i evensaw in any ono week oa
the streets < > t' Omaha. Men wore walking on
the streets c irrying a iiottlo in each liuud nnd
shouting and yellinp as only drunken nien
can do. Heer In orlginnl packages is kept on
ice , and the dealer [ < so kind as to pull the
cork nnd furnish glas l just us nu ncrommo-
dation for ttio IcustoOi.'rs . , and imtgut. wlilch
they call whisky , la jut up in bottles holding
from two ounces ub'vard. / In the iiart of
South Dakota that I b.vo lxen : over there Is
not a village largo cat ) ' $ h to have n postofllco
where liinior and beet are not kept for snle.
I wish the constltutiinal prohibition advo
cates of Nebraska woUd take a trip through
the Black Hills , and if seeing la believing
surely they would not.want this kind of pro
hibition , i
Hot Springs Is nt present filled with visi
tors to its full hc'/l capacity , and the town is
growing rapidly Storaa and dwellings are
going up IIA all directions , jjpre are already
ouiprivalo > Mtfffcrmif'Sato l > Anlr , and a na
tional banlr has jnst-born organized by P. T.
Evans , A. S. Stewart , C. 0. Fargo , V. T.
Prcnticeand 1'ettyBrdhers. The$50,000cap
ital Is ' all subscribed awlthcy will bo ready to
start' easiness In a fowlnys
The Fourth of July mis celebrated In regu
lar spread eagle styl on the Chautauqua
grounds Just outside i if town , which is as
beautiful anJaesthet1.'a picco of ground as
the most romautio W'liild ' wish to seo. The
mountain siue , with ip projeetius out some
twenty feet ovorhaiiRing the green valley ,
and runninu' water lielow , makes a picture
that is very pleasing in its majestic grandeur.
Fall river , made un almost exclusively of
tlioso hot springs , flows through the town
and four miles below forms a fall of soventy-
two feet , where the water goes over the rocks
with a dcaffinng roar. A good road along
the river bau.is forms a pleasant drive which
the tourists h-om to enjoy very much , nnd
furnishes good business for three livery
stiibles.
rho entire Country is tributary to Omaha ,
and traveling men from the different whole
sale liouses tan be scon hern every day.
Omaha seem' , to bo to this country what Chicago
cage is to ouiiorn Iowa. * .
Jtinn nnd Gospel Unity.
COZAHD , Neb. , July 10. [ Special Tels-
gram to Tire BEB. ] There hai been con
siderable excitement caused here ever an
application which has beer laid before the
town board ly Charles Depow asking for a
license to run a saloon.
There is already ono saloon In town , the
proprietor of which immediately came to the
same conclusion as the prohibition party , or
"Church le.i 10 , " viz. , that ono saloon in a
town of this ii/e was quite suHlcicnt ; so both
the league anj tbo saloonkeeper , apparently
hand in hand. Circled ou their armor nnd en
tered the light A remonstrance sicned by
quite a iium.iur was handed In , and consequently
quently a pi. ) llo incftlng was hold in the
opera house m order that the question
might be pi jllcly argued by the at
torney's on ttoth Bides. Judge Connor
of Kearney if.resented ] IJcpew , and Smith of
Lexington appeared for the Unity. Tlio
meeting wan well attended nnd some very
amusing arguments ami sarcastic reunifies in
dulged in by bntb attorneys. Mr. Smith on
behalf of the combination endeavored to
prove that Dopow had not acted accord inf. to
the requirements of the law , by not having
his application placed on record la the county
olllco before th > notice appeared in the local
newspaper , ana nho painted out that all the
signers oa the applicant's petition were not
bona lido real cstato owners. The board de-
elded not togr.tnttho iliotmso , but consented
to consider mm her application if laid before
thorn in a cli'auy legal manner. Mr. Dopow
again went to work ami without difficulty se
cured moro tl. in thq ruquired number of
signers nnd 1m * la every way acted In accord
ance with tha mlyico of hit attor
ney ; so -ho . 'board will con
sider the socc.-id llcenao on thu 10th. It Is
generally supj. .sed tha they will grant the
license , ulthou 'h Mr.Smith said in public
that his chentb intended to make It as warm
as they could , uad if limy did not gain thnli
point they woi .d delay.it , as long as possible
by taking the ' to. a , higher court. The
whole coinmni ty is groutly nrousod at the
saloonkwper b.-inghopvl.winkedby tholeague ,
as their object is to prevent the opening of
the second sal .on nnil.tften turn their uttcn
lion to getting rid of tha present ono. Tha' '
fact has been stated ftwn the pulpit of ono of
the churches , but as saloouueepor does
not attend Kat church he U not yet ac
quainted will , this fact. The general opln
ion is that the saloonkeeper supplies th
funds and the league does the shouting.
t
THE KANSAS WAY.
Original I'aokftRe Joints Flourishing
on All Side * .
Jailor Joe Miller returned Thursday from a
trip to Ottcgo , Kan. , and a wild tala ho toll
of affairs in that atata. Whllo there Mr. Miller
lor visited several towns and la each ono ho
found the saloon bar closed , but tha oriRlna
package flourished in all of its original glory
Hotels , druff stores , groceries , hardware
stores , and in many Instances dry goods stores
bad their little rooms partitioned off wher
the packages wcro sold. The streets of tnos
of the towns were full of drunken men oni
oyory other inaa had un original paokajjo In
bU pocket.
In retard to crops , they are poor ,
tr tn beln * nlmost failure , while th oor
IM ufforcd greatly from thuhot wlndi thui
Blew during live d j-t Insl week.
An Original 1'ncKagn Vlotopf.
TorKKA , Kan. , July IT. Iuilge Phillip * hn
inndoil down nn ohibornU docljloa in th
orlglmil pnckngo c.as * urguod before him re
cently. Ho granted an injunction to th *
ngenu of the brewing firms In St , Louis and
Milwaukee who had cngased In business la
his niuco npntan t'outitv -
AttoxnoyVolsh \
nnd Sheriff \vllkerson ro.stralnlnc thou from
further luterforouco with the pluintlfts' buj
ce > .
IiMB Ueor , atom \\lilaky.
n'tulrtwtan I * ) . <
Lfke most Impraollcal rofonnors , who aw
ever pronolo bolstorup their unmllablo th -
irlos with untrustworthy llgnrei , tlm prohl-
iltlonlitH show A disposition topliieoan niultia
wllnnco on one-sided sUtistUn. Thus the
Now York Voice , the organ of the prohibition
urty , In a recent Usua publishes n great
rrayof tlguriM to show that in Iowa and
{ imsas the projent consumption of boor hai
greatly decreased from what Itviis In these
tales ten yeawngo. ThisdoeroaHolsolalmod ,
no doiuit with perfect accurauy , to be directly
duo to prohibition.
Uut this claim , well ostablUhed though It
may lw , falls HO furnish a satisfactory answer
o the question , "Ooui prohibition prohibit ! "
t failn to show thattherj U loss drinklngnnd
runkenncs.s In lha proldbltlon statn.i thiin
here wore at the beginning of the douado. It
5iiotdliUculttoHootlr.it a prohibition law ,
vhii-h would elmngo licensed saloons into so-
ret nnd Iri-osponsihlo "speak Oiisios , " and
urn drugstores practically Into lliiuorshops ,
vould , In the very uaturoof things , diminish
r , Indeed , entirely do uway with the morn
mlky potations of boor , xvhilo It might drlvo
beer-drinkers into the more easily concealed
nnd far moro pernicious habit of whisky
Irinklng.
That , in the several prohibition states , this
las been the precise result seems established
jy abundant testimony. A few months ngo a
ending clergyman at Portland , Mo. , staled
mbllcly that bo had scon far moro deplorable
: ascs of utter Inebriation and a greater num-
> er of Ihomof thoinhi Portland In onodny
ho previous Fourth of July -than hs had
pen In Milwaukee during the whole of week
its attcntl.inco at tha national uieanipinent of
ho Grand Army of the Republic , although
icor was abundant on every side and all sorts
of liquor could bo had openly. Tbo evidence
of reliable citizens of Kansas nnd Iowa is to
ho effect that In every city , town and village
hroughout those states whisky tiny be had ,
hough for the most pirt of inferior and dan-
g.'rous quality i that because- mint bo talcen
n bjlk the tendency is to exo'sslvo drinking ,
ind the ( IrunkcmiOAS resulting is of a parlicu-
arly violent and malignant typo.
If tlii.s stiitmni'iit of the matter In some
neasuro approximutes the truth , how can
irohibition bo hold to bo successful 1 What
j.iin is it that beer drinking has boon cllinln-
shed or even driven out If it hiu been ro-
ilaced by whisky drinking undur secret , II-
ielt , cowardly and utterly demoralizing cir
cumstances ! Whisky contains 50 per cent of
ilcohol , while boor has only 3or1 per cent.
I'hew is more perilous and mlsehlef-produc-
ng drunkenness in one gallon of whisky than
n a whole keg of boor. Where , then , la the
advantage of driving out the moro harmless
leverage , lu regard to which the Voice boasts
tiiat prohibition has largely diminished its
consumption ?
If , therefore , it is true that in prohibition
state.s the diftlculty of obtaining beer leads to
an increase of secret whisky drinking , nt
onconofft-adiugio the man uml demoralizing
o tha citron , may It not bo justly claimed
that prohibition is in a great mf-asuro chargeable -
able with so deplorable and dangerous a re-
sultl.
Xb Only Legitimate Conclusion.
I'Yril Bmttnger in Lincoln Courier.
Sitting in front of thfl Capita1.i ' s
other ovoniaff A. Q. "Wolfcnbargcr , the pro
hibition advocate , conversed on the nil pre
vailing topic in a temperate , sensible way.
Ho spoke In complimentary terms ot the abil
ity and energy of Editor Kosowntor of Tun
OMAHA BKU nnd expressed the opinion that
that paper was being paid by the liquor in
terest for Its light against prohibition. Ho
added with unmistakable sincerity that Tan
BBK was earning every dollar the liquor men
are likely to pay , that Mr. Hosewatcr Is
throwing an influence and a power Into the
campaign with results that the antl-prohl-
bitiiniiats could not secure in any other way
with nn expenditure of n like sum of money.
There Is nothing startling in these stato-
ments. but it Is a bit noticeable that such
testimony should have come from such a
source.
The truth of ttao matter is that Mr. Hose-
water is a much misunderstood man. Dy
thousands of people every utterance of Tim
UK on btato affairs Is supposed to bo loaded
with mystio meaning. If a quarter' the
surmises were true they would keep Mr.
'
Rosc'walcr uwake nights laying plans to
boost this or that politician into on loo. If a
half of these guesses wcro facts Mr. Roso-
wiiter's tltno would bo engrossed wilh a
lhouaud schemes of assorted sizes and
colors. The fear of small fry politicians con
jures up shallows that never had any sub
stance iu Mr. UobCwater's plans. The pre
judice ami the ignorance of narrow-minded
people nttribiito mean actions and qualities
that would become themselves , but are
foivlgn to him. I do not mean to hold up the
Omali.i editor as a paragon , but I do believe
ho is not quarter as bad as ho is painted.
Ue has su pncd on the schemes and ambitions
of a thousand men , and they have turned on
him with bitter reviling. Herico the prevail
ing opinion.
Take the recent debate at the Ucatrico
Chautnuquii assembly between Sam Small
and Prof. Dickie for prohibition nnd Mr.
Kosuwater and John L. "Webster against It.
THE Ben employed three stenographers to
maio verbatim reports , and It published
both sides without abridgement ami without
any attempt to color the affair. H Is not
likely the liquor interest would pay to have
prohibition speeches reported and published ,
and if the men in the bushier are really put
ting up to THE BKB they would undoubtedly
have given a good round sum to prevent
these prohibition speeches having the bcnellt
of THE BKC'S great circulation. Tha only
legitimate conclusion Is that Mr. Rosewater
published this debate on his own motion nnd
at his own expense. And If you will look
b.icl : over bis record you will find that that
sort of thing baa not been uncommon with
THE Bni ! . Such cases miilto me f-jel prouder
of Journalism and of the men in It. The
spirit of fair play manifested by TUB BIE Is a
newspaper virtue beyond the comprehension
of the average man , and Mr. Hosowatcr is
ovcti rnoro of an enigma to the bigotry and
stupidity of the common herd.
Hndly Worsted.
iritnerUhrtmkte.
It has been some tlmo sluco a public dis
cussion has attracted so much attention aa
has the debate between Prof. Dicklo nnd
Rev. Sam Small on the side of prohibition ,
and Editor Ilosowator and Attorney Webster
on the negative. It Is the general opinion
that the advocates of prohibition were badly
worsted In the battle , their sentimental ex
hortations being completely wiped away by
the sledge-hammer loglo and unanswerable
statistics of their opponents. It wa noticeable -
able that the prohibition organs had no use
.
for reports of the speeches of Hoaewator and 1
Webster. _
The Kuntors Womtecl.
( irand Itlarul Independent ,
Tha free whisky prohibitionists should
have stood.off the taking of the census until
after the election thU fall , as the fljurei t'lv
tha 11 * direct W lha
paid prohibition pnp < > n
mnd platform rnnten vf&a bare boon tAlklng
nbout prospnrltr following tha postllentlul
path of prohibition. It ! < bad for tha llmirc *
thnt they ill.timta the dlrtsjt Utttlmonr cf
those civat rafortn mitton. FWl nro stub
born things auil no amount of nuttluir coi
controvert faotJ when once well established ,
nd thU 1 * whor * tliu iimters tiuvo th wont
Ilk
_
'I he Vnot/i / nnd l'l ut-p .
Si < ; xrl r Ttinrt ,
The f real dclwto on high license v prohi
bition ut thnDcatrlroClmutniiquiion hut Sat
urday iind Monday exceeded the expectation
of the most enthusiastic and sangulno. Thou
sands of people went to hear gi fled nnd Ul-
onted men discuss the pro and con of this Im
portant question nnd wcro not disappointed
In thnrosnlt. Some of the ablest spceche *
Hindu In our atnt for years were delivered
thorn The most notable feature the deb da
was the number of facts backed up by statis
tics taken from unlclul records that could not
b disproved that were presented by Uoso-
walorimd Wobstor. The prohibition ndvo-
witoa took the only course loft them , that of
heaping aniithenms nnd abuse upon the sup
porters of high llcenso. Thcso gentlemen
should learn thnt u few facts and llgnrai
lakon from rollnblo records are worth
moro In n dolmte of this kind than
all tha nbiiito nnd vltupurntlon at the
command of oven n Bam Small. Such
im argument ns the prohibitionists endeav
ored to ndvaiico , may gain applause from
these whom loglo and reason will not roach ,
but any unprejudiced mini or woman who
listened to that debate or will carefully read It
can draw but ono conclusion , nnd that Is that
the prohlhs wcro badly worsted on their own
ground nnd they did not , with their Impor
tant speakers , bring forth ono argument lo
provo that their position was tcnablo.
When the growth and prosperity of high
llconse Nebraska was compared with the ad
vancement of. prohibition Kansas , Iowa ,
Maine , Vermont and New Hampshire by
olllcial records and Indisputable facts , Ne
braska was found to bo far In the lead. Uut
the worst black eye given the prohlbs was
when It was proven without doubt that no-
cording lo the population wo hail In this state
a less number of convicts in the penitentiary
and lunatics In the asylum than these sUtoi
w hero prohibition has been tried.
IC op U Ilct'oro tlio I'cople.
( Imntl JxlMil Inrtritmttcnt ,
ICcop it before the people that there Is not
a statD In the union with HO few convicts In
prison ; is wo have lu the license state of Ne
braska ,
Keep It before the people tlmt there la not
n prohibition Ma to In the uiilnn lu which the
percentage of Illiteracy Is so low as in the li
cense state of Nebraska.
Keep it before the people that there Is nota
prohibition state in the union with so few
liquor dealers In proportion to tlm population
03 wo have In Nebraska.
Keep it before the people that there Is nota
prohibition state in the union that has so few
people in Jail In proportion to population , as
wo have hero In Nebraska.
Keep It before the pooiilo that there Is not
a prohibition state In the union where tha
public school facilities are as good , In proportion
tion to the population , as hero in the license
state of Nebraska.
Keep it before the people that there Is nota
prohibition state in the union with so few in
mates in its insane asylums as wo have iu the
license state of Nebraska.
Keep it before tbo people thnt there Is nota
prohibition state lu the union where tha
moral standard of the people Is so high as
right hero in the llcenso state of Nebraska.
ICcop it before the people thai Ihnro Is not
a proldbltlon slatn 'r thu union where the
COIL acrdal prosperr ; ias been so great for
the p&oi , tun years as s-ht Jjero In Nebraska.
Keep it uofoii gri.)0plo that there is not
n prohibition stJJB > the union whorotholc.
: rcnso li. popiiK .i n the pasfl'IP ! Rr1ia3
> eenanything j'ko ns great ns herein the
license rcgulnl state of Nebraska.
Thcso are f..cts worthy of consideration in
, he prohibition controversy nnd nhould bo
carefully pondered over by every citizen who
a anxious to do the right thing1 , according to
its best judgment.
o
The Great Debate.
JVfr/brnra Planter.
Tne debate on prohibition vs high Heenso
fit the Beatrice Uhautauqun , In which Prof.
Dicklo of Michigan and Rev. Sam Small of
3 eorgia espoused the prohibition cause , nnd
[ Ion. Edward Rosewater , editor of Tim
OMAHA. jJcn , and Hon. John Li. Webster , ono
of Nebraska's ablest lawyers , espoused No-
limska's state policy of high license , closed
on Monday. The arguments on both sides
wora generally good , though the prohibition
sldo Is weak in its great stickler to iirinclnlo
without policy. There Is no question in the
miiiii of any ro.spcctablo man but that the
various animal passions of men should bo
regulated by educated custom and decent re
gard for one's * elf-respoct The state
makes proper provision for the brutes of
luunanity. It is not that any of the
Intelligent citizens In thU state op
posed to prohibition nro RO wedJed
to the saloon that they can see no danger In
Its freedom , but rather that the policy of high
license , with a proper regulation , has proved
more satisfactory than the free saloon or the
private bottlo. Moral sentiment positively
enforced would soon rognlato the worst fea
tures of the dangerous saloon clement. The
Pioneer Is by no moans upholding tha saloon
business as nn elevating one , but there Is n.
demand for such places or there would ba no
room for them. I'ut them out of the way and
the privnto house will have iU private Oottlo
where It was never known before , and the
towns nnd cities not morally strong > vill have
holcs-lu-tbe-wall. Messrs. Rosewater nnd
Webster had the practical points on thelrsido
nnd bandied the subject with romarhablo
ability. It is a remarkable fact that there Is
no prominent prohibition orator In Nebraska ,
but all have been imported from other states
to Insult its citizens , to cry down Nebraska's
general prosperity , and to paint pictures of
hell , damnation nnd discontent , none of which
xUt.
The Fourth In Portland , Maine.
Cor. AVir 1'uik I'reiilna I'ot ,
The Portland papeis announce that with
the exception of the ceremonies In connection
with tlio Army of the Potomac reunion , the
Fourth was celebrated us usual. If such bo
the case , the sooner tlio state of Malno does
away with its farcical pretense of a prohibi
tory liquor law the better , for the number of
intoxicated persons mot about the strcctsdur-
ing the day and evening , la a city where the
snlo of liquor Is illegal , was to a stranger
astonishing. Many of the people from the
surrounding country , prohibited pos-ilbly
from obtaining liquor while at home , seemed
to make the celebration of the day the excuse
for a drunken debauch , attesting by tbo net
their defiance of the law and their contempt
for tbo law-en forcers.
$ . - > < ) a Night.
Sfoiir Cltu Journnl.
fix-Governor St. John is stumping Ne
braska for God and homo and native land.
Ills terms , unless be has cluuigod them , nro
" . .0 n night and expenses. " Tlio prohibition
leaders are cranks indeed or they would biro
John P , St , John to stay out of the stale till
after the amendment election , oven if they
had to pay him "f50 a night and uxpcnsos. "
Hcntinmnt vn KlRiirc.i ,
" - ' Trllntne ,
Sam Small la In Nebraska talking on the
liquor question Instead of religion. Ho says
in prohibition Iowa property U only taxed J5
cents on thu (100 valuation of assessed prop
erty. Co mo over , Bam , und got some "Jig
ger * " before you say any uiore.
331
I'RflillBiriON ' FOR PIMDEl
DOOM Vorj Startling Figure * Printed bj tit
IOTT& State Kcglater.
THE PUBLIC TREASURY ROBBED ,
Ktpoudltnrcn In n I'Y
UfTortto Ktif.iroo the Imvr Mer
cenary OlllcInU I'CAttier
Their Own NesU.
Tb towi Stnto Itcglstor has had Ut
atcd nrtlclivi showing whnt M system ot
plunder is innm ; on thuro titular tlio uulta of
prohibit Inn and with llui aid of th VMnlJ > -
llory law.
Whnt Is beliic done at lo- ) Mollies la b ln |
ilono hi u loss degree In other Iowa looaU-
ties.
ties.The
The Register innuiw this suinmurj of th *
facts It bus collected :
" \Vo print in another column this morning
some figures that will suirtlo tha | > toplo of
this city mid the whole stnto. Tlu-y show
how the prohibition law Is being used by
pang of mercenary ofllclnls to plunder th
publlo treasury. A Kojjisti'r ' ropJitiT hu
very carefully examined thuofllcliil fwonls ,
and ho llnils that during the nix m ( uli. of
ISW ) there has boon taicen from the trwisur"
for tuo criminal costs ( if the Justices' court *
In this city nlono the mini of o\er $ WOsX' .
Of this amount over $11XX ( ) win p.ild to tivn
justices , the remainder wnnt to Iholr con
stables , witnesses , jurors , etc. This enormous
expenditure wan nearly all for the scnrchlnc
business , or such criminal business as Inci
dentally grew out of It , The city has *
police court where ordinary criminal 00.101
nro disposed of that do not coma iHiforo" the
district court , so Unit the moat of the coata of
these justices' courts was for alleged enforce
ment of the prohibitory law.
"Hut If thtagiinit oxpi'imnhtul resulted It
closing the places where liquor Ii sold and
suppressing the Illegal sale of liquor In tbU
city , there are many pcoplu who would not
fcol that the cost was too irivat. Uufortutv
aUily lliat result ban not happened , Thi
f.30.000 dollars oxprnilcd oa the Justice *
courts has gene lnU > the pockets ot t.lii
Justices , constables ami tlu'ir fuvoivd ganR of
assistants , without any Ihine.st utlomptbolnj
tnndoto stop permimeiilly tlio sale of liquor.
The conslaiilcs who make thesa xonrohot
don't ' wnnt the traftlc siippinMniid. fortbny
nro Retting rich by It. Tlio Justices who
Issue the wnrrantH ami ( jot Inrgo fees dou'l
want It suppn'ssed for they are making
thousands of dollars out of Itevery year. Aud
so the whole machinery of these petty courts
Is worked to perpetuate tbo business und yet
punctuate It with lucrative interruption *
nearly every day , and somotitnos suvorU
times a day. "
Ho Coiilil Itnlto In < ; ( ) ( ) n Week.
f'rtlar Ittijitilf. / ( . . ( Inzette.
Deputy Sheriff 1 'ollins1 attx'iition was called
loan article from a les Moinra paper , expos
ing the work of Pierce nnd 1'ott.s und othoi
constables in that city , nispectini ; thoirruidi
on liquor dealers and original [ tackuro Joint *
and their utili/.liig the inachlnnry of the Jut-
lices' courls nnd pivhibitory law for the rick
yield of fees that it afforded. It is understood
by the public that they were milking no hoti-
cst effort to either permanently or tempuni-
rily close any of tlioso places where liquor li
sold In violation of the statutes. "Well , i
man can grow rich out of it , " said Mr , Pol-
lins. "If I wanted to do it I conld lift th
mortgage off my house in a very short
Guess I will do Ifc No wonltber ,
the we < 5k und served where liquor is soldi la
this proceeding it Is
unnecessary to do nny-
thing further. The officer would receive fl
for the writs , $1 forservlng notice to tboownor
of the liquor to appear within forty-eight hours
nnd show why Iho liquor .should not bo de
stroyed , and fl for destroying the liquor ,
making a total of ( I in fees for each and
every seizure. Thn law requires theofiiccr
to do this nnd county boards of supervisors
nro required to pay the bills , Say there nra
ono hundred places in Cedar Hapids wbor *
liquors arc sold. If writ * of seizure should
bo issued against tlivinllpiico \veek tli
ofllccr would make $ KK'-Ji < r week , quite a
comfortable living , a veritable picnic.rrw ;
it Is possible for the olllcer to bo in loagus
with the liquor scllcrs'thcmselvcs. lie could
post thorn when bo would call , and when ha
did HtTVC the writ Itwnild not bo necessary
for him to scizo all tbo liquor In the estab
lishment. Ho could take ono bottle of bee
or whisky , proceed with Iho contention pro
cess and become under the law entitled to uli
fees. Kvon If ho destroyed n thimbleful of
whisky ho would bo entitled to n fee ofl
for destroying It. So you see how easy It
would bo for n dishonest constable or otllt-er
to earn largo fees without accomplishing any
results , with no purpose of honestly enforcing
Iho prohibitory law nnd without seriously
discommoding the liquor dealers , or destroy
ing much of their stock In tradu.
Tin ) Mnhio Prohllis Acknowledge It.
'Ihf. Ail t f n ,
The prohibitionists of Malno have Just held
a state convention which Is noteworthy for
Its frank confession of the fact Unit prohibi
tion docs not prohibit in Maine. The plat
form contains the following statement !
"That the republican nnd domocr.itio parties
each contain n liquor clement suflnilcntly
largo to prevent any thorough or determined
enforcement of the prohibitory law : tholr
declarations nro therefore meiinlnglfsi ind
adoptions well understood by the HqiiDr In
terests and by the otlii'ials upon whom en
forcement depends and nt whoso hands th
law Is practically nnllilKul in tba cities and
largo towns In Maine. " This Is precisely
what the opponents of prohibition Imvo al
ways contended to bo tbo truth , ntnl , novr
that its advocates conei-do tbo fact , there U
no room for further argument on the quc * .
tion.
They WatnlKM ] Him.
lie * Maims Lrailer.
Ono of our constables was In Chicago re
cently and registered at the Palmer housa.
The dork assigned him lo a room on the slxtk
Iloor and whispered to the house detect iva t
keep an eye ou thnt fellow or clso ho would
Jump his bill. "On what Iloor uro you put
ting mo ! " asked our constable. "On the lop
Iloor , " was the answer. "I guess you don1t
know mo ; lama DOT Molnes constable. "
"Show the gentleman to parlor A , " said th
clerk In his most affable tones to the bell boy ,
and then turning lo the ilotocllvc ho whU-
percd , "lie can pay his bill all right enough ,
but he'll utcal everything that has two looio
cuds if you're not caroful. "
rtndly Worsin'l ,
I'lrmiml'till. .
The prohibitionists were fairly worsted a *
Urntrlro on Saturday. Mr. Uosewnter's stub
born facts swept away tbo web of sentiment
that had been woven by tlio opposition an4
Mr. Webster fairly clinched the argu
ments advanced by his colleague. That
Omaha 1ms been one of tha most slandered ol
clllos Is very plain , and It ia well for tb
metropolis that It has u clminp'.on thnt caa
confound Its enemies and put IU rcvllori to
open shame. Kvery ono should read the argu
ments In full , as they will doubtless be pub
lished In pamphlet form. It may bo well to
Hiiggnsl that tbo prohibitionists will nove
s | > ciil ( the money sent them from the coat U
publish any purl of thorn , but whut U
intercut * .