The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-09-08
LOCAL OPTION.

/ 0s Auts ~ ~ apseEotus HuesAiou ~ Httatht ~
Maryland, and especially so in several Of the eoun'
ties. including Baltimore county, whose citizens
are expected TO vote upon Il. pro or ron, at the
approaching fall election. Il is proper that those
10 doing should have the best information within
their reach whereby they may be enabled to net
aud vote understandingly. In order. therefore
that they may ascertain the opinions, sentiments
and impressions Of others, to extent familiar
with the working. Of the Local Option Law where
II exists and has been In practical working for
some time, We copy below the address Of the CON-
mittee appoiHted at a meeting Of the citizens Of
Prince George county upon the subject. The
committee who sign this address are well. known
influential citizens, aud We doubt not mean pre-.
eiscly what they say. A our county is soon to
vote upon the problem we therefore afford its cti.
Eens an opportunity Of learning how the matter
works in Prince GeOrge's, by presenting through
our columns what the committee opposing local
option has TO say, As follows;
The undersigned. committee appointed at a
meeting Of The Citizens Regulated License As.
ISOLATION Of Prince GEORGES county" 10 prepare an
address 10 you. stating the object of this Rssoca
ton, In order that IL may be understood By all in
time 90 have m open aud avowcd expression of
opinion In regard 10 the Local Option Law Of our
county at the coming election this fall beg leave
| to state:
That they believe the Local Option Law II
Prince Georges county has proved TO be a failure
by the testimony OF several Grnnd Juries being
| unable TO find pfesentmcnts against parties &C.
cused Of violating the law because witnesses sum
| moned before them seldom, " ever, knew anything
| about such violations; by numerous acquittals
both by the Court and Petit Jury after indict.
ments; by the remission of quite all the zines i'm il.
posed, which have tended 90 make the Law almost
| totally imperative; and lastly. By the want Of
that moral sentiment among the people in favor
| Of sustaining the Law, which IL essential TO its
maintenance and necessary Mt all times for the en-
forcement Of any law In any community.
II Is an undeniable fact that large portion Of
| the well-mcaning people Of our county did not
and do not believe that tho law was properly
adopted. That the casting Of votes for the law to
take effect throughout the whole county by voters
residing In Laurel and liyattsville, where the
Local Option Law was already In force, and tho
throwing out by the return judges Of the entire
vote of Kent district whether II was regularly or
irFegularly dOne), at the election in April, lsSO.
which election took place within thirty days from
| the adjournment of the Legislature, have justly
given'rise 20 serious doubts n 10 whether such
law ought o. receive the moral support of the we'll.
judging citizens Of our county. Aiaw thus adopt.
cd and in consequence almost necessarily failing
TO be enforced in every trial In our court, is only
apt to command the respect Of few, while the
masses Of the people who are equally interested ia
the peace. quiet and prosperity Of the community,
regard IL as not binding on them.
In common with all good people VIC ieplorc the
evils Of intemperance. aud in order to countcract
| them (leaving 10 the church aud home influence
it, proper part of the work, favorable To- the
passage Of n law by the next Legislature of veil
regulated system Of licenses for the State of Mary
land for the sale Of spirtuOus anil fermentcl
4 Ia lie ..l l,r H.. T.. 4.
State favor IL for Prince George county. which
course IL, in opinion. the only solution Of tho
difficulties surrounding the local Option Law e
this county. We conccde 60 the local optioni,t
his rights OF opinion on the subject ~ We do TO
the whisky man but we conscicntiously believe
| the license system to be the middle ground upon
which all OF can stand aud. if obtained, will be
| respected aud enforced by ALL We do not favor
high license for such would he local option in
new form.l any more than do n low license.
for this would bring but little revenue. but We
favor law within the reach Of all who wish to
sell liquors. after being recommended By rcputl.
bic citizens of the village neighborhool some
such provision Of Law TO be framed by our csisla-
tors embracing aud meaning u regulated license
system. We 10 not presume to dictate the Law.
The presen, Local Option Law. although oh.
served by some. IL violated by others. which Is u
hardship: all should sell or none. Its often said
that IL has driven labor from the county. IL L.
undoubtedly true that the tax. payer has 10 foot
the bill OF the court aud jurcs wasted in iruitlcss
tr'a'' Ihc several thousand dollars annually lost
!" the county from tue incense revenue requires
no comment u Is notorious that 10 tue border
distFie's OF our county tue franc IN Iqnor " car
fied on oy persons deaiing IN charles county ana
neighooFing cit'e., while on the other hand our
citizens and merchants who nearer 60 them
cannot sell. because they are law abiding. License
Is regulated in several Of the counties In Mary
'ahu' as "at'e" anu Sha.'e'' anu wot"s wen: IN
some OF Tue counties totai pt"hioitioh Is SAM 10
eAht !e, We hhh that IN qu'tc NUMBER OF theh
Tue ufihk'ng OF nquofs' or eatihg OF opium or use
OF mea'eiha' eAh,'erahts goes bravery on JUST as
st'muiants nave been used from the time our Lord
ehansea wafer INTO wine ~ tue marriage ieast'
ana as mas continued on down through tue ages
70 th', tune, ahu VIII continue We nave laws
shough no" upon our statute BOOKS TO punish
ufunSehhes.' gamonhs anu "ther iniac,i"hs OF
Tue Jaw anu We heed n" more
We oehe'e IN tue principles OF tue Democratic
party on the local option question rs announced
N the oh'o platform and NJ expressed by Senator
bayara anu other statesmen OF the country We
shi supper. tue nominees "i our party TINS iaii'
Out earnestly suggest the repeal OF TINS law which
y good enough Tor the rich anu well todo citiken
but burden upon the poor man. and all laws
shonid DC eIuni anu elective ahkc upon alI.
we recommend to our Democratic and 'onscrV'
alive voters TO send delegates chosen IN the pFma
h"nofao'e means 10 nave pascal oy 'aid epnNen'
ton resolution TO tue intent that the delegate
ticket nominated oy tue convention 'haiI 'tani.
u elected by the people. rs pledged to the repeal
Of the present law and to the passage Of law
giving US license system Tor Prince "c"rge
county oy when resolution. u adopted tue part!
VIII openly and deliberately deal with the 'exei
question anu every voter VIII vote intelligent'y
upon tue subject. " THIS Tree anu frank policy
DC pursued We believe. from canvas among tho