Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-06
High License Policy.
To the Editor of the Globe:

AS usual whenever the friends of the
prohibition of saloons have worked up
sentiment which demands recognition,
their enemies evade the issue, not daring
to meet it squarely, by substituting some
form of compromise for the perpetuation
of this business. This has been the policy
of our legislature in all the past aud is
likely to be this year. By one and anoth-
or specious argument even the friends of
the principle are deceived, the comprom-
Use is made, and the real work to be done
postponed for years:
High license differs in nothing as a
principle from low license. So its ad-
tions on the subject, and take those of ex-
pediency in their place. The common er-
ror of those who argue in its favor is that
they plead the possible prohibitions instead
of defending the right of the permission.
They say it reduces the number of saloons,
but this fact has no bearing as the same
thing could be accompl ished by legislating
that the number of saloon licenses should
be limited to one for a specified number of
inhabitants, thereby making the conscience
of the community the determining power
instead of the pocket of the dealer. They
say it raises the character of the places
where liquors are sold, and puts the bust
ness in the hands of better men.
But again this could be more perfectly
insured by law requiring that the appH-
cant should produce petition to the prop
er authorities, signed by majority of
all the men and women of the ward or
Town, in which the saloon is to be locat-
ed, asking that such license be granted and
certifying to the good character of the
bearer. Again it is said, sit will greatly
increase the revenue" Certainly, and just
here is the curse of it; the complaint which
now comes up from all parts of the coun
try is the power of the liquor traffic.
Money is power. And now with the fact
staring us in the face that this immense
business is able to buy indulgences to
commit crimes for which other
men languish in the penitentiary,
or swing from the gallows,
that its corruption fund destroys the purity
of elections in various places throughout
the length and breadth of the land, yet we
propose deliberately to increase that power
almost beyond calculation. Suppose the
statute should make the license one thou
sand dollars. There are three hundred
and fifty saloons in Minneapolis, this
would yield $35O,0OO. At one hundred
dollars, as now, $4,000. Gain in revenue
$4,000. Bat it is said, it would reduce
them, 80 that the revenue would not be so
great. Well suppose it should reduce
them one-third or more. Base the calcula
ton on one hundred and'it is still gain of
Siety.tiue thousand dollars. This is dan
gerous measure of power and the more
so because concentrated in a few persons
In brief time the whole revenue of the
city government would depend on it, and
the stupendous. bride is fastened forever.
Have our people become so stupid as to
believe that money is a pledge of charac
ter? Is one -thousand-dollar liquor dealer
any better than a hundred dollar one?
The low saloons, theyIsay, will be driven
out. Yes; but the high-toned ones will be
let IN. Four-ffths of those men who
would take out the high license were once
the proprietors of these low resorts. Has
wealth changed their nature? Is whit ID
sepulcher the better for the painting?
There is not an observing citizen but
is ready to say that the worst places
for the decentralization of the
best young men are those
where money has been spent lavishly in
adornment, where music and the beautiful
in art blend their charms to fascinate the
young. The late address of the executive
committee of the Liquor Dealers associa-
ton of this state to the council of the city
of st. Paul was right when they said that it
could not be shown that the character of
the small dealers nor of their places was
any worse than those where more money
was spent in adjoining the place. They
even proceed further and admit the law
breaking propensities and demoralizing
influences of some larger places while they
defend the small dealer. l chal
lenge successful contradiction when
I ssay that the concert saloon,
with brilliant lights, beautiful scenery,
sweet music, wine and women, is the most
foul and accursed place which human in
genuity can invent, for the eternal ruin of
young men. Comparatively few of these
can be maintained, because of the compe
tition of small dealers. But the objector
is ready to say these Objectionable features
could be removed. Yes, and so they could
as it now is, and that without the extra
bribe proposed, which would insure silence.
But another serious objection to high
license is that it makes stupendous mo-
nopoly of the liquor business. Here is
business which requires neither edu-
cation, brains, nor capital to engage in.
Given key of beer, Jug of whisky and
shed to put it under and nothing is
wanting but to lease the right to sell,
which is by statute vested in the body pol
itic. Now comes the government and says:
''We cannot let you have this right unless
your profits will warrant us $1,000 as
our share of the business and as a certif
cate to us of your good character. Thus
this business is put entirely beyond the
reach of the poor man and is monopolized
by the rich. When first introduced the
saloon interest would object, but when
fairly established the new interest would
soon susts in it, as they do in Nebraska.
High license is immensely in the
interest of the liquor traffic,
as whole, and while they do not recog-
nize it now while burdened with the small
dealers, they will do so when they try it.
Let me repeat it, high license is danger
Gus monopoly and opposed in principle to
the genius of our institutions. Again, it
is the verdict of both temperance men
and liquor dealers that it does not decrease
drunkenness. 1t will not put it beyond
the reach of any who desire it. The Gu
,1d;fv Of tho deaIar is sharDened bV the