Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 234, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1914 — Majority Controlled By Minority in State and Nation. [ARTICLE]

Majority Controlled By Minority in State and Nation.

Two years ago Winamac voted “dry” by 37. This ’year the “dry” majority was increased to 70. This substantiates the claim The Republican has always made that temperance people should never lose an opportunity to further the cause of temperance in a small way. The process is one of degree. It took years to get the saloons out of Rensselaer, but now it is safe to say that 75 per cent of the people, possibly 90 per cent, are opposed to having saloons in this city. There are two saloons in Jasper county, one at Wheatfield and the other at DeMotte. Both were voted in, it is understood, not because the people of those localities wanted saloons, but because there were evidences of much bootlegging and because there were saloops just north of the river in Porter county. Jasper county would probably vote “dry” by a great majority if the law of Indiana gave the people a right to hold a county wide election. And we believe that Indiana is 65 per cent in favor of state wide prohibition and the nation is 75 per cent for nation wide prohibition, but the shrewd liquor interests have made it impossible for this great majority to eoptrol'the state and the nation and the liquor business goes marching on and such men as Crawford Fairbanks and Tom Taggart, backed up by all the saloon, brewery and distillery interests of the state not only keep their business running, but also dominate men filling all the offices of the state, put their henchmen into important positions and provide for the debauchery of the poor wretches who are made slaves that they may revel in wealth. The prohibition party has been trying for years to provide a nation wide house cleaning of the liquor business. It can not be applied because of the power of the old parties. Prohibition is a matter of degree, of education. Six years ago prohibitionists refused to support county wide option, and thereby gave the greatest blow to the advancing cause of temperance ever dealt in Indiana. The man who will not use the means at hand to further the cause of temperance, as the prohibitionists did in 1908 is standing in his own light. It would be as wise to say, “JVc will destroy the churches and ignore religion until the world is converted”, as to argue for state wide prohibition and at the same time vote to support the cause of liquor in the small communities. The new constitution of Indiana offers an opportunity. It is non-partisan; it is a movement that will give the great majorities against the liquor traffic an opportunity to be heard. 'Vote for the constitutional amendment at the November election, The ballot will be separate from the state ticket. It has no rooster, no elephant, no moose and no morning sun at the top. It is a ballot for the people and you can strike a blow at the saloon if you will give it support.