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The Local Option Election

The Local Option Election image
Parent Issue
Day
23
Month
February
Year
1888
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Next Monday the people of Washtenaw will vote " Against the manufacture and Bale of intoxicating liquore," or " For the manufacture and sale of intox: ating liquors." It has been shown in the columns of The Register that in those places where prohibition is now in force, with the exception of Providence R. L, and one or two other cities, the law is reasonably well enforced, and the open saloon is rarely if ever seen. This has been done n counties in Iowa where originally there was as much anti-prohibition feelmg as there is in Washtenaw connty today. The leading opponents of prohibition in Iowa have been won over, not by argument, but by the actual demonBtration of the efficaey of a prohibitory 'law. TnK Reoistkr has repeatedly shown that prohibition is correct in principie. In the evolution of society from lower to higher planes, everything that offers such an obstruction as does the Baloon should be prohibited just as Boon as it can be safely done. There ought not to be too great hurry about it, but it Bhonld be done as soon as the prohibition can be fairly well enforced. ciety has really acted npon this principie in other things ; why shoald any exception be made of the saloon ? If that is the correct principie, the only queslion that remains for the just citizen to decide is, Will probibition lessen the saloon nu-isance more than the tax law? That js what should be looked at, and not all the miserable side questions which only serve to confuse and mislead, and wbich are nrged by the saloon interests iiMhe hope of dividing the temperance workers. Prohibition and high.taxation, which will hurt the ialobn business the more inWashtenaw coünty ? Can there be any doubt about it? The large distil'ers and brewers have given abundant evidence of the fact that they dread prohibition in such states as Iowa; bat they do not dread high taxation. If the brewers and saloon-keepers of Michigan were not making a hot fight in Washtenaw county against prohibition, we mijrht believe the statement that " prohibition does not prohibit." In view of the fact that they are leaving no stone nntnrned to defeat prohibition, how can any temperance person hesitate for a moment how to vote? It is good policy to do just what the enemy doesn't want you to do. As a matter of fact, the saloon-keepers and brewere know well enough that prohibition is the most deadly weapon yetused against their business. There can be no question that even in Washtenaw connty it will be effective. Henee, those who vote against prohibition next Monday will vote, in fact as well as in form, "for the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors." How can any progressive citizen so vote ? Vote to sustain the saloon in the eyesof thelaw? The saloon is antichristian. It is against the progress of the world. lts horrible breath pollutes the pure air on nearly every street. It has its horrid arms out, like fearful tentacles, to catch the unwary. It takes the money which sbonld be used in putting the young man in a good business; it takes the money of the rich and of paupers ; it takes the food from the mouths of starving wives and children. The saloon is a great parasite which does no honest work for iteelf, but draws its sustenance from the lifeblood of others. It is a place which provides the means of gratifying human appetites henee it is on a par with he place of any procurer or purveyor. Vote to sustain such a place ? It seemtmpossible that Washtenaw can do it.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Register