The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-08-12

he liquor traffic, or at least decrease
Is baneful effects by regulating the bust
ness That II is business in the |
United States, and tremendous one, can
not be denied. and the effort therefore at
blow to break it up is not only dangerous
one but very unjust one to thousands
who have honestly invested capital therein.
Inc encroachment upon mans tastes and
private rights by such effort 1t is unneces.
sary to speak OF. in fact, II is unnecessary
at this time TO go further than look at re-
suits where both prohibition and regula-
ton furnish well-marked cases for con-
sideration. In Iowa and Kansas they have
tried prohibition, and in Nebraska, Illinois
Missouri and Ohio they are trying regula-
ton by high license. In the former states
II is an open and notorious fact that while
prohibition exists upon the statute books,
practically there is as much intemperance
as ever, the state in the meantime losing
the vast value of revenue that was formerly
derived from the sale OF liquor within her
boundaries. Where before were bars, are
now drug stores, so-called, and commission
houses with hundred othcrsources in every
community where alcoholic stimulants
can be obtained upon almost as easy
terms as in the golden age of the saloons.
Added to this fact is that other one, that
thousands of the states citizens are taught
to constantly live lie and violate the
states laws. At any rate, and in short uni.
Versally the evidence is furnished that pro-
hlbilion is a dead failure in all those states
that have attempted IL. Now, in those
other states referred to, whore high license
has been resorted TO as the most effective
means OF regulating the traffic and getting
rid OF its worst features, the success is most
marked. Most Of the crime and misery
aud generally corrupt and disagreeable
features OF whisky.drinking cluster around
the low dives, the alley.way, out-of.the-way
ten and ilve-cent saloons, where only tho
worst class Of the vicdms Of the whisky
habit congregate. High license breaks up
these dives and turns over the business to
those who have capital enough TO run nice
and orderly establishments. 1t is bad
enough at best and from any
standpoint, but IL is better to have the bust
ness conducted In decent and orderly
and "gilded" style, as 1t has to be bust.
ness, II seems, than to permit all
Iolasses.to carry IL on in disgustiDgly noisy,
bloody and shameful manner. In Ohio IL is
learned that since the late law went into
into effect, Il high-lioense law virtually,
over 600 saloons have had to close up. In
Line ,ln, Nebraska, the number of saloons,
under high license, has been reduced to
eleven, in II city Of 1900 population. In
Joliet, Illinois, the nImber Of saloons has
been reduced from l07 to 60, and from other
points and towns In these states and In
Missouri, similar reports indicate similar
ialings-oT in the number Of saloons. Under
this system the licensed men are made the
guardians of the law, for 1t is to their in
terest TO close up all establishments where
the license has not been paid as by them
The men who are regulated" are thus
called in TO help enforce the very law I'M
der which they are taxed. In other respects
contrasts just as striking are
presented in the premises between
the prohibitionists and the high IL
cense states. In the one case states are de.
irauded out oflegal revenues, while the in
temperance of the people is as great as ever,
ana every body taCitly agrees to general
violation or evasion of tho law. In the
other heavier revenues than ever are paid
nto the state, the law. drinking quarters are
swept away, and those left are rendered as
respectable as they can be made while their
very proprietors are rendered willing assis.
tants in the enforcement Of the law. The
contrast is so great between the practical
workings OF the two policies that prohibit
ton is steadily declining, while high license
is just as rapidly growing in popular favor
The practical ,statesman-lke solution there.
fore, Of very complicated aud vexatious
question appears to have been reached,
and the longer these states referred to CON
nue. to present such marked contrasts In
the direction now indicated the less likeli-
hood will there he OF the people of other
states being called upon to discuss the ab.
struse and difficult political problems in
yolyed In the agitation ofprohibuory liquor
legislation.