The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-06-29
Liquor ana PoIIIlcs In ohio.

The presumption OF the ONO DeIhOC'AcS
Is that the liquor dealers OF that Sta: are
all fools, and, being fools, will wreak theil
vengeance on the party which has passed
a law requiring them to pay fair and res
sonable tax on their business. The su
preme Court having decided that the
Scott liquor law is within the Constitution
the liquor men are upsetting the Demo
cratic presumption by making haste te
obey the law and making some very sen
sible comments on its practical effect
The Cincinnati Enquirer asked leading
brewer OF that city whether he thought the
decision would have any political effect
"No; why should III" replied the brewer
"there will be q few sore heads, but Illinois
Missouri and three or four more Statei
have been paying license for some time
and Ohio is only doing what others have
done. Ipaid license for seventeen wagons
last week, but Pm not kicking any,"
This is it precisely. Ohio is only doing
what other States have done and alwayi
done. For thirty years Ohio has been ar
exception to the rule among States. She
did not prohibit, az other States have done
hut she refused to license and made the
liquor traffic the only business exempt
from some part OF the cost OF govern
ment-which no other State has done
For thirty years this business has paid
nothing to the State. There is NO ground
upon which the liquor sellers could
have asked this exception, and
they never would have asked it. II
was the incorporation into the Constitution
Of a sentiment without any regard to its
practical effect. Those who were opposed
to the sale said that the State should not
soil its hands by taking 1.-THE OF it. They
were going to make the business 80 disre-
spectacle that it would not be engaged in.
After thirty years no one will pretend
that there are in Ohio fewer places for the
sale Of liquor than there would De iflicense
were granted; and no one will say that less
liquor is consumed because Of no license.
The Scott law merely recognizes q patent
fact, that the liquor business is carried on
in Ohio, and from this it results that IT
ought TO pay its share of the cost Of Gov.
eminent. It makes no practical difference
whether it pegs its share under the name
Of a license or tax; the effect is tho same
the State gets the money.
The tax is not oppressive. A man who
sells beer only can afford 10 pay 500; and
$500 is not too much for general liquor
business. The profits are sufficient to stand
it. Yet the State viii realize handsome
sum, estimated at not less than two mil
lions Of dollars, to be devoted to the pre-
servation Of the peace, the care ofthe poor,
and to general expenditures Naturally
this SHOULD result in relief to the whole
body Of taxpayers. 1t Is in the nature OF
ageneral equalization oftaxes. !.
Now there is no reason why any class OF
citizens should resent this lawful and ex-
pedient act. On the contrary there is every
reason which the act should command gen
eral endorsement, and, since parties are
Judged by what they do, the party which
has had the wisdom TO conceive and the
courage to put into force 80 excellent a
measure should reap the reward Of faithful
service. y" %
There may be some selfish liquor dealers
who will strike back by voting the Demo.
cratic ticket; or there may be some Prohi-
bitionists who will show their devotion to
a sentiment by voting the Prohibition
ticket. In this free country men may vote
as they please; but the Indications are that
the Republican party will not suffer greatly
at the hands Of either Of these elements,
and 1t will gain more than 1t loses.