The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-01-06

aQOp ed, clause was voted into 1t by
the people under the belief thal
through 1t would be secured a greater
restraint to the traffic than had pre-
viOusly existed. Experience has shown
that, instead of greater restraint, we
have practically free trade in liquor,
not only six days in the week, but sun
day also. In fact, in many localities,
Sunday, instead of being, as the law
and well-being of society demands, a
day of rest and recreation, has become
a day of rowdylsm and carnival; in
stead of being the most orderly, il has
become the most dlsOrderly day
of the week. 1t is humil-
latlng fact that we have IN Ohio, to-day
more than 10000 places where this
unrestratned traffic is carried on, taking
the hard-earned wages from many
thousands Of our citizens, whose faml-
lies need the money thus worse than
thrown away. This entire traffic, the
amount of which in round numbers,
will probably exceed seventy millions
of dollars annually, much the larger
portion of which is profit, contributes
but Lithe of the burden it imposes up
the public through the crime and paup-
erism created by it. @ RI = "A
The laws upon our statute books,
enated by both of the great political
| parties, for the aVoWed purpose of linn
iting and restraining the evil effects of
this traffic, are, to all intents and pur-
poses, except, in few localities, mop
erative.
1t is earnestly hoped that u practical
measure of restraint can De enacted,
and through it the evils of the traffic
materially reduced.
/ / have given the subject much thought
and careful study, and while it is not
pretended that, ii the recommendations
and suggestions here made are enacted
into statutes and put into successful
operation all OF the good results desired
| by our people will be secured, it is
nevertheless confidently believed that
thereby would be secured a gratifying
diminutiOn of the evils of intemper-
ance.
1 am fully of the opinion that the
principle of taxation, judiciously
applied to this traffic, will furnish the
most satisfactory solution of the prob
lem show to deal with the liquor Jraf-
| dc" that Is attainaDle. There seems to
be a popular demand for the submission
of constitutional amendment, such as
was proposed by the Cleveland conven-
tlOn, TO be voted on in October, 1888.
The Following is copy of the resolu-
| ton referred to: .....s.
ReSol0ed, That the public interests
require that the General Assembly
| should submit to vote of the people
| such amendment to the Constitution of
the State relative TO the manu fracture,
sale and use of Intoxicating liquors as
shall leave the whole matter to the
Legislature.
Such an amendment ought to be sub
mitted to vote of the people. There
will probably be petitions, numerOusly
signed, presented you, asking for the
submission of prohibitory amend
ment to the Constitution. While |
prefer the submission of the single
proposition above recommended, which
If adopted, will enable the people to
secure prohloitOry enactment when
ever public sentiment demands it, yet
1t may be well to submit such prOpO-
sitiOn, also.
There are certain enactments that
are practicable under the Constitution
as 1T Is, to which your attention is in
vlted.
am clearly of the opinion that
simple law, taxing the traffic at a uni
form rate throughout the State, and
making the premises whereupOn
the business is conducted liable for the
tax is clearly constitutional, will be
found popular with our people, can be
easily executed, and will operate as a
practical, effective and satisfactory
measure of restraint, and therefore,
recommend the enactment of such
law EAe
I,suggest for your consideration the
repeal Of so much Of existing law as
prohibits the sale of Intoxicating liq-
uOrs to be drank upon the premises,
and the substitution of the word land"
for the word cor" where penalties are
imposed.
/ suggest further the propriety of
restoring what is generally known as
the Adair act TO it's original 1orm, and
Of Teviving the provision of the
statutes In pursuance of which what is
known as the McConnellsville ordi-
nance was passed, 80 that both may
again exist in their original force and
Sunday Laws. If statistics were at
damage to society by the liquor traffic
on Sunday, compared with the other six
days of the week, am quite certain it
would be found that. the Sunday traffic
Is N ore harmful to society than that of
the other six days of the week COM
bined. Sundayis the day when other
avOcations cease and men are idle-the
saiOons being open. either at the front
or rear, those disposed 70 visit such
PLACES have the opportunity to do So.
An Investigation, not full and COM
plete, but sufficient as basis for estl-
mate, leads me to express the opinion
that more men and boys visit the Sun
day saloons in the cities and villages
than attend the churches, and perhaps
more than three-fourths of the visitors
to Sunday saloons are boys and young
men.
N Is there. any good reason why the
business of saloon keeping should be
exempted from what are regarded by
the great mass of eur people as whole
some and necessary regulations for
common labor and other avocatiOns?
The laws enacted, having for their
lobject the simple purpose Of placing the
/ business OF saloon keeping upon the
| same footing with other aYOcatiOns up
on Sunday, are practically unexecuted
| in many of the larger centers of popu-
lation. If the people in such localities
neglect to place in authority officers
who will Sexeeute these lsws, the re-
sponsibility for the disqualification to
e sScisty that is certain at to- to @lsnsusfs with
"a Ii, In, your, wisdom, you can add to
the eeffectivenesSiofl the laws upon this
subject, such action will meet the
hearty approval of the people.
CHARI ES FOSTER.
Columbus, o., Jan. 1, 1888
Il Tf,. re