Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 October 1908 — A PROHIBITIONIST’S VIEW. [ARTICLE]

A PROHIBITIONIST’S VIEW.

J. M. Helmick, a well known resident and prominent prohibitionist of Wheatfield, had the following letter in "The Voice of the People”’ column of the Indianapolis News a few evening’s ago, which we copy as it will be of interest to the people here and comparatively few copies of the News come to Jasper county: Sir—l admire your fair dealing on all questions of temperance, and now that the county local option law is on the statute books we must soon see whether Governor Hanly, the Anti-Saloon League and the clergy’ of the State can make good their promises. No true temperance man or woman will care who gives us remedial regislation, so it is a real remedy against the traffic. What the temperance people do want is a genuine antidote against the poison. The suspicions, however. are aroused among many of the rhohibitionists at the attitude of the would-be reformers and ministers toward the State-wide prohibition resolution in the State Senate.

It seems to me that every genuine temperance man, whether minister or not, should have thrown his entire strength in its favor, and not have questioned its constitutionality. It may or may not be constitutional to submit two amendments to the constitution at the same time. We have a proper tribunal to try that feature. But it seems that the local option people, or a large part of them, suddenly turned constitutional lawyers ’ and passed on the resolution in great haste. It will soon be up to these men to test whether they shall be able to hold the. territory already acquired under the remonstrance law. If not, the responsibility must rest on the Governor and ministers'. It will take more than the Republicans to enforce the law successfully, and to hold the ground already won from the enemy. It will take the temperance Democrats and the Prohibitionists to help. And we shall meet a foe that is alert and wily, with plenty of cash and ready Workers. And I caution the Republicans and the Governor and the ministers not to attempt to make political capital out of the law, but rather heal the breach already made in calling some of the best temperance workers allies of the brewers. The homes are at stake, we pay the price, and we can not afford to drag a political party in the trail of temperance, especially one built of all kinds of people. We Prohibitionists are opposed to all laws to regulate the traffic. We believe that State-wide prohibition could carry far better than county local option. We believe it to be the duty of every minister of the gospel to be in the front rank for State and national prohibition with “no compromise” as their watchword. We do not believe in pulling straws with the brewers to see whether saloons shall or shall not exist. I have heard no recommendation from Governor Hanly or the ministry against the “blind tiger.” . The present law is inadequate, and does not reach the crime; neither are the penalties any thing approaching the offense. It should be impossible for such crimes to exist. The law promises imprisonment for its violation. It is not to regulate violations, but to enforce law that penalties should be aimed at. If any man thinks county local option is the solution to the liquor traffic the sooner he disabuses his mind the better. J. M. HELMICK. Wheatfield, Ind.