Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-07-07
THE DOWNING LICENSE LAW.
Views OF State Officers.
The Governors Opinion.

Especial TO the St. Louis Republican,
JEFFERSON CITY, July Slowing to Che xreal
Importance of the high-lfcense act passed upon
To-day by the supreme court and decided to be
constitutional your reporter this evening inter
viewed Gov. Crittenden on the subject, with the
following result:
Governor, what do you think of the decision
OF the supreme court on the Downing law2" :
II think it Is correct beyond question and Just
what should have been expected from the court.
When the bill was presented tome for my action
rs governor 1 examined it critically, and al
though great pressure was made for its veto BY
political and personal friends l could come to
no other conclusion than that the bill was a
good one and not in conflict with the c~onstitu-
| tion.n
"What do you think of the political effect of
the nigh license system as enacted in the law?''
~ believe 1t will go very far toward
ALLAYING THE EXCITEMENT
In many parts of the state on the question ofpro-
hibltion. OF course many OF the politicians who
are figuring as leaders in that movement are not to
be satisfied with anything short of their obtaining
Office, but the honest. thoughtful voters, who
really want to promote temperance and who
nave no selfish motive will be willing 10 await
the result OF this law. Experience. which is.
alter all. the great teacher. shows that prohibit
ZION mas failed In every state where it has been
attempted. Mass ichusetts has tried it twice
and abandoned it; Michigan, Indiana and Kan
sas have had the same experience, and
In Maine the law is a dead letter In the cities and
most pre- valent. know this is controverted by
the prohibitioufsts, but the facts are rs 1 state
tnem. In Nebraska, on the other hand. where
nigh license has been adopted, the happiest re-
suits have been secured. and all rejecting men
In that state concur in the statement that intem-
perance has been largely decreased. and
LAW AND ORDER PROMOTED.
so, also. mas 1t been in many communities in
Missouri where high license has been adopted.
do you think the democratic party of Mis-
souri, favors'the Downing law p"
Eyes; an overwhelming majority OF The party
indorse 1t heartily. The democracy OF this etate
are against prohibition and free whisky: thew
do not propose to be bullied by the fanatics of
either extreme: they do not believe In statutory
or constitutional enactments restricting the per-
sonal liberty tfindividuals as to what they shall
drink or eat; nor do they believe that prohibition
Is the road to temperance; but ut the same time
they are determined to regulate the lIouor
traffic so as to obviate the many terrible abuses
SO often accompanying it. and they are delerm-
ined that the lawsupon The statute books as TO the |
sale Misunderstanding liquors and the observance
offhe Sabbath shall be enforced
lyon propose. then. rs governor of the state.
to enforce these la Tvs rigidlys"
Most certainly. There shall be no exc aption |
SO lar AS am concerned to the rule tina. these
laws shall be enforced and no violation of them |
Will receive any clemency at my hands, YOU
may rely upon that. Men. of all class-s must
obey the laws of the state / c,n See no more
reason why men enguGrd In selling Intoxicating
spirits should be p. rmitr"d TO violate the law in |
reference to their CALL < than any uther class of
men In reference to any other species of prop
erty.
LAWIEssNEss WILL NOT BE PERMITTED
under this Downing bill, its provisions, one and !
nll must be enforced without partlulity or favor. |
The bond required to he given underlts provisions
Is rigid In Its requirements and shall be rigidly en- |
forced against all delinquents. whether the vio- |
latlon OF the law is in reference to the sale IF IL |
quor to minors, to habituai drunk ards, or to auy
person on Sunday. As no man can or will ig-
norantly violate the law, doing it oniy. from a
willfut contempt Of its wise provisions, there
car" be no reason why l should or will remi,
any penalty adjudged by a proper judici al tribu-
nal. Morality is stronger in this state than I'M
morality, and it will determine the great Issue
IN this state, unintlmidated by fanaticism upon
oAe sue OF ORGANIZED sal0en-keepers on the |
other. The wise will willingly submit to the
law; the refractory must bow to its demands. I
will see that this law is executed through.
out the state. and In this l ask the aid of the La
abiding citiSens of all partles.'' f
''Then you thfnkthe law a wise one?" |
81 certainly do. It is better to have it than
the frauds, evaslons, perjuries and failures in.
cldent to what Is falsely styled prohibition. |
The Downing bill is
a DEMocRATIc. ~MEAsuRk;-
prohibition a republican ~bantllng. gotten mn no,
for the good there is in il. if any, but merely "a a
side show. with which to defeat the Democratic
party in this state. 1t will be a miserable fail.
ure, like all its republican progeuitors In this
At the close OF the interview several OF the
state officers were questioned concerning the
decision OF the court. Treasurer Chappell, At
torney- GeneralsM Mcintyre and Auditor Walker.
were unanimous in agreeing that the decision
was in accordance with their views. The stale
auditor has written the following letter, which
explains itself:
RI Metcal!. Prosecuting Attorney, Butler
County: Dear ~Slr-Replying to your letter of
the Both ult., I would state that in my opinion
each dram-shop license legally issued prior to
the present date. July ?. VIII remain In force till
the expiration OF the time tor which 1t was is
sued. L