Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-09-20
4 MOVES AND VICTORY
o. MORGAN, Chairman.
T. J. McLAIN, Jr. Sec'y.
E. B. TAYLOR,
PHINEAs CHASE, SCo. Cent. Com.
T. A. BRIEFLY,

has the presumption to assert that the
present very restrictive liquor law Of
Ohio was passed when that party had a
majority in the Legislature in 1854.
While it is true that a law was passed at
that session, ostensibly for the purpose
Of regulating the liquor traffic in the
State, il is well known that it was not
intended to be restrictive in the sense
Of approximating prohibition. 1t was
shaped so as to appear to be in the
interest of radical temperance, while
it really was full of trap-doors and side
exits for the use and convenience of
liquor dealers. The law of 1854 was so
Intellectual in restraining and restricting
the liquor business that retail stores,
saloons, barrooms, and doggeries efloE
degree, yearly augmented in numbers
under its moderate and easily evaded
provisions. This was so palpable to
every observer, that for four or i've
years there was a growing feeling and a
manifest public sentiment in favor of
making amendments to the law that
would make it more efficient and at the
same time be practicable and operative
in its severest provisions. This was
successfully accomplished, we think,
by the legislation of the session Of 1870,
when the amendments proposed by Mr..
Adair, Republican representative from
Carol County, were incorporated into
the old law, imparting TO it a vitality
and efficiency it had never possessed.
These amendments make the liquor
seller pecuniarily responsible for dam
ages to the life or health of his patrons,
to their families; also holds the owner
of property leased for saloon or doggery
purposes equally responsible with the
tenant for violations Of the law. Now
whereIthis law has been enforced it has
proved prohibisory. It is practicable in
its operations, and accomplishes all that
any true friend of temperance could
desire. Ii is conceded 20 be the most
efectual temperance law ever enacted.
True, it is not a self-acting, automatic
statutory machine that once in motion
runs perpetuslly, unaided by any ex-
terror or independent motor, but viii
fulfill to the letter its intended work,
when properly operated. This sound
temperance law, which we hope viii
never be repesIed or stripped Of any OF
its salutary features. was passed almost
exclusively by Republican votes. In
the House, on the final passage Of the
bin, the vote stood, yeas So; nays 80.
OF those who voted for the bill 50 were
Republicans, and IL Democrats. Those
voting against the bill were, % Demo-
Gratis, and 1 Republican. There were
three Republicans absent who would
have voted afirmatively had they been
present. There were twenty-five Demo
Gratis absent and not voting on the
passage of the bill. They did not like
to face the music. They did not desire to
be put on the record, but preferred to
continue practising the feat Of carrying
a pail of water on the left shoulder and
a keg Of whisky Oh the right. The
vote in the Senate, on the passage OF the
bill, was p for and 10 against it. 1t viii
be remembered that in both House and
Senate the political parties we're about
equal in strengthen the House 81 Re-
publicans and 55 Democrats, and in the
Senate 10 Republicans aud Is Democrats.
OF the p votes cast for the bill in the
Senate, IL were Republicans and only 5
Democrats. OF the ten voting negatively
IN the Senate, but one was 8 Republican.
1t will be seen hat nine-tenths Of the
votes in favor of the bill in the House
came from the Republicans, and that
over three-fourths Of all the votes for it
in the Senate were also by Republicans.
In view of these facts we have good
reason to believe that il enough votes
can ba drawn by the ultra Prohibit
tionists from the Republicans-the
source from whence nine-tenLhs Of their
votes must come, If from snywhere-to
70 give the Democrats a majority in the
6 xt1egislsture, the best features Of the
presentlawwill be repealed or so neutral
lied as to lose all their forces and effect.
When we have a good thing why sban-
don if for an uncertainty?