The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-04-21

Committee On the Traffic in Intoxicating
Liquors.
II the ballots containing the words,
License to Traffic in Intoxicating Liz
uors, Yes," shall be in the majority, then
the following shall be a part of the Con-
stitriion:
"SEcrIoN License to tratli; in spirit
uous, vinous or malt liquors may be
granted under such regulations as may
be prescribed by law"
But if the ballots containing the
words, "License to Traffic in Intoxicai
ting Liquors, No. shall be in the major
ity, then the following shall be a part of
the Constitution:
"SEcrIoN NO license to traffic in it,
toxicating liquors shall hereafter be gran
ted in this State but the General Assem-
| bly, may. by law, provide against evils
resulting therefrom."
This is Substantially the form in which
1 the question was submitted with the
Constitution Of 1851. as-@ ~,.
The next, by the author of the Adair
liquor law, is known as
THE ADAIR PROPOSITION.
In this the same kind of ballots are to
be used, and in case those shall lie in the
majority having ON them the words "Li
cense TO sell Intoxicating Liquors-No,"
then the following shall be part of the
Constitution: -ar -
s'No license to traffic in Intoxicating
liquors shall be granted in this State,and
all persons in any way vending or dispo
sing of Intoxicating liquors shall be held
liable for damages in a civil action to
any one injured thereby, and may be in
criminal prosecution and otherwise reg
ulated or prohibited as the General As
fsembly may provide"
/ Should the ballots having on them
the words, 'License to sell Intoxicating
| Liquors-Yes," be in the majority, we
arc left to infer that there is to be no
constitutional provision on the subject
i Mr.. ADAIR may have had a clear idea
of what he meant, but he was unfortu-
nate in expressing it. That persons in
any way vending liquors "may be in
terminal prosecution and otherwise reg
ulated and prohibited" is very clumsy
and vague expression.
Il Next in order we give
LEWIS D cAMPBELL's PROPOSITION.
1t is rather the propositions, which
are to be voted upon separately. They
are as follows: 81 VI
81. Intoxicating liquors shall neithel
be manufactured nor sold in the State.
: "II Intoxicating liquors may only be
| manufactured or sold in the State, in
quantities not less than one gallon, or
licetSe granted in such manner and on
such terms as the General Assembly
may prescribe by law.
"III. intoxicating liquors. may b'
: sold in the State in quantities less thar
t one gallon, only on license, granted il
such manner and on such conditions a!
the General Assembly may provide BY
: law"
Such of said propositions as may re
r ceivc a majority of the aggregate vot
Q given for or against the ratification o.
/, the Constitution, shall be adopted; bu
: should the first and either of the other
receive such majority then the Grst onl.
shall be declared adopted: prouided il
receives greater number Of votes thai
such second or third proposition; other
wise it shall be deemed rejected, and sucl
of the other two as may be appro we'd b.
majority shall be declared adopted.
! A grave objection to Mr.. CAMPBELL
9 plan is, that it is too complicated. tt
obtain a satisfactory and correct expires
sion of the opinion Of the people the
question submitted should be plain ant
clear. There are thousands Of voter
who would not take the time fully t.
:, comprehend the effect Of their votes OF
all these propositions.
: Finally, we elhave
II MR.. VESTS PROPOSITION,
: which is as follows:
"SEcrIoN l. Except in complianc
a with, and upon the terms and condition
: presented by law, no person shall trafi
! in or, sell intoxicating liquors in thi
% State.
ls "SEc, O.. Laws shall be passed to pre-
,f vent the evils and compensate the inju
ries resulting from the sale or furnlshin
, or intoxicating liquors, and from the in
. toxication consequent thereon.
. "SEc. 3. County Commissioners, ,towr
ir ship trustees and municipal authoritie
IS shall have power severally to restrict an
prohibit the traffic in and sale of intox
eating liquors within their respective j
as risdiction, and to impose thereon tern
and conditions other than and in additio
. to those prescribed by law.
n- "SEc. 4. Nothing7in this constitution
re shall be construed as denying TO Il
General Assembly the power to restri'
or prohibh the manufacture and sale {
N intoxicating liquors, or to regulate IL
same in any manner not inconsiste e.
with the provisions of this article"
~ This proposition, we suppose, won
y most nearly meet the views of those wi
advocate entire prohibition of the 50
=, and manufacture of intoxicating liquor:
but formidable objection to it is, th
it would make the question of tempe
n. ance disturbing element in politics, n
ds only in State, but in county, townsh
and municipal elections. Temperance
or one of those questions about which M
On become unduly excited, and is of n
er. ture to drive out OF sight other matte
te- that demand serious attention. For th
re, reason it should be determinately settle
lat and removed from politics, as soon
practicable.
ms Our preference, as alrea ly indicated