The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-03-03
Some had Feature, of the Liquor Law.

careful examination of the liquor bill recently
passed. satisfies US that some of its features
foisted upon il by the enemies of prohibition, and
for the purpose of embarrassing its execution. The
people, in adopting the amendment, wished to do
away with the sale of Intoxicating liquors bev-
erage. They did not intend TO interfere Extensively
with mems private affairs, To surround the legit
mate of alcoholic liquors with unreasonable and
vexatious restrictions. Indeed it is still question
which will have be decided by the Courts wheth-
er. under the amendment. the manufacture and sale
OF ntoxicants, for mechanical medicinal and scen-
htc purposes, is not free to all who may choose
engage in it. However this may be, the intent of
the people to strike ut the sale Of intoNicans
as beverage. Under the law, rs passed, the sale
by druggists, for the excepted purposes, is re-
strcted and hampered and the chances of technical
violation are great while the penalties
we're that, in many places it will he found difficult.
If not impossible to get druggists to into the bus
mess In many instances it will he difficult for them
to give the required bonds. The restrictions, too,
upon the medical use, are excessive and oppressive
No physician can prescribe any ntOxicants, except
in cases of ''actual sickness; intoxicant can lie
bought Of druggist, except in of actual sick
ress.' This is absurd restriction. II liquor has a
medical at all, people should be allowed to buy
II rs they do other medicines. man does not want
10 wait until he has eongestive chill before he
sends for medicines 1t is necessary in every fami-
" to keep medicines on hand. There a thousand
cases liable to occur, when stimuant is required at
once. To wait until physician be found, per-
nit obtained, and drug store visited and remedies
obtained, would many times be u risk TO human life
The people had no idea of any such restriction as
this being thrown around the medical of intoxi-
rants. IL is wrong, and should be repealed.
Again, the law, il stands, Glasses all kinds Of
medical and other preparations in which there 10
sufficient alcohol To produce ntOXicaton, intoXi
,ating liquors. without any regard TO whether
they are used as beverage or not. This would in
'lude hundreds of necessary preparations tinctures
ind essences, which are not intoxicating beverages
because not used for that purpose.
Again, the law apparently forbids one person to
Iire liquor to another, declaring il to be unaw-
ul selling This is trying to do too much. The
owing away of liquor, erdsiOH of HnLarftlIg
cling IL, would be properly subject To legislative
but to say that shall not give
lass of wine, beer, cider to q guest ut his TIA
lie, that he shall not give his neighbor, who ia
lex an alcoholic stmulant, is absurd, and unrea-
enable.
We very much regret these features of the law.
They are not in accord with common sense nor with
he general judgment of the friends of prohibition.
hey will simply make the law odous and difficult
4 execution. They are Just such provisions rs
night naturally have been concOcted BY shrewd
nemy of prohib tion, who wanted to create a reyui-
ion in popular sentiment against the measure They
ill be condemned by nine-tenths of the reasonable
linking people in the State, who wish to see the
ale of intoxicating liquors, a beverage, prohib-
ed.
IL would be wise in the Legislature, before il adj
'urns, to pass a supplementary act, relieving the
Nv Of these features which will greatly impede its
NecutOn, and go far toward destroying its hold uII
n the pnblic mind. Laurence Nam, Journal
'riQht Thaeher, Editor