Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-02-16
PROHIBITION OR LICENSE WHICH,
Let the Voters OF Each Community De.
eide FOR themselyes-POpular Sever
eighty and Local elf-GUyernment-
The Temperance Question Taken GU,
of Politics.
To the Members Of the General Assembly
Ohio:

To the Members Of the General Assembly Of
Ohio:
GENTLEMEN As you have now before
our State Constitution, so as TO provide for
more efficient legislation against the great
and growing evils resulting from the liz.
uor traffic, permit me very respectfully TO
suggest for your consideration an amend
ment, in substance rs follows:
Substitute ier Section Is, Article Is Of
the present constitution, the following:
Sec. I. The General Assembly shall have
ing from the liqu" traffic. by enaciing laws to
license, tax, restrict. or entirely prohibit said
trafiic, and such laws msy be either general or
local In their operation, anything in this Con"
stitution to the contrary notwithstanding.
Sec. 2. Should this amendment be adopted
by the people at the October election, 1888, the
General Assembly. at its first regular session
eater, shall provide by law for holding
special election on the first Monday Of June,
1884, and on the same day Of each succeeding
year, Ia every city town, Incorporated village.
township aud ward, or precinct thereof, at
which election the question shall be submitted
TO the qualified voters whether the sale uf In
toxicating liquors as a beverage shall be per-
mitted therein and If majority of the votes
cast at such election shall be oppos ed to such
sale, then such sale shall be unla wful from aud
after the period of thirty days next succeeding
said election but il a majority OF the vntrs
cast at such special election be in favor Of such
sale, then license may be granted for the same
for the period of one year by such authority
and under such regulations, forfe,inres and
lties as shall be herea fter prov by law.
Sec. 8. Should this amendment be adopted
BY the people, il shall be the duty OF the Gen.
eral Assembly, at its first regular session
thereafter, to provide by law for carrying the
same into full force and effect.
Sec. 4. The manner Of submitting this
amendment to the people shall be as follows :
On every ballot cast for state and county Off
GERS at the general election of October, 1888,
shall be printed the following separate propo-
si,inns:
Legislative Control and Local Option
Yes.
Second Leg islative Control and Local op-
tion-NOi
One of which shall be stricken ort by the
voter, according as he may desire IN voie IN the
affirmative or negative, and II neither PROPOSE
ton be stricken out then the ballot shall not be
counted either for or against this amendment.
The above amendment submits the whole
question Of prohibiting or licensing the
liquor traffic to those who are most direct
ly interested, namely, the people Of easl,
community in the state, and compels them
to decide the question for Themselves,
through the ballot box, and by n majority
of the qualified voters. This will enable
the friends OF prohibition to vote down
the liquor traffic in every community where
a majority OF the voters are in favor Of
prohibition. On the other hand, where II
majority are opposed TO prohibition, the
traffic may be licensed, under such laws
and regulations as the legislature may pro.
vide. This is simply applying the princi-
pie OF popular sovereignty and local sci :
government, on which our Republic il
founded, 10 the Temperance question, and
leaving il 10 be settled by the will of tie
majority in each community. II IL both
Democratic and Republican, In the broad,
eat sense, and takes the whole qnestion, as
far as possible, entirely out of party poli-
ties, and leaves il TO be decided on ils own
merits. II is, in word, government ol
the people, by the people, and for the peo-
ple."
Such an amendment should receive the
support of every friend of Temperance
whether in favor OF license, taxation oI
prohibition, aud il womld therefore stand
u better chance Of being adopted than amy
more radical measure. IL adopted, il il
confidently believed the result would bs
n speedy aud marked advance in the ca,ls,
Of temperance reform in our State.
For the above and other reasons, which
will doubtless suggest themselves, II .
hoped yonr honorable body will give III,
proposed amendment your careful consid
GRAFTON and wise aud deliberate action.
Very respectfully submitted.
j. l.. BoARDMAS.
IiillsbOro, Ohio, Feb. Z, 1888.