Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-09-14
p,rss coLroN,s LITTER.

prohibition docs pfOhibit IN MAINE, must,
I think, have been satisfactorily 10 nil who
were willing 10 bo convinced II any
doubt could have remained, IL was nm.
removed by the letter Of Miss
Mary A. Cotton, published in the last
thank Mary for II. From
tho numerous technical legal terms ~ II,
and the evident sympathy manifested for
the liquor traffic, the thought is forcibly
suggcsted that Mary, in preparing her let
ter, received aid and inspiration from
rum sellers attorney.
She commences her letter by saying
"Since the policy of prohibition became
settled in this State, its advocates have
through legislation, continually augment
cd it's penalties for trNfficking in liquor
until at present il is one OF the mos; Sc
verely punished misdemeanors upon the
statute books"
Prohibition them has become the settled
policy Of Mc State! Good. That is the
policy desired by all good citizens. The
law against ira Ticking in liquors was
enacted 40 years ago, and unless it had
been enforced and its results salutary, ii
could not have become the retted policy
OF the State. During all those years 1t
has been approved by majority ef the
people, and the penalties for its nfrsction,
Continually augmented" Not only that,
but it's violation "is one Of the most Sc
verely punished misdemeanors" Why
should it not be? No other, nor all other
mi.demeanors combined, produce so great
injuries to communities ~ dram selling.
Again Miss Cotton says: "The most
rabij prohibitionists are now endeavorng
to make it felony" Good again 1.-THE
present law was obeyed there won Id he no
occasion to increase the severity OF its pen
allies. 1t is because bad men, wilfully and
defiantly violate the law that it issough'
to check and restrain them in their lawless
course, and If possible make decent and
law abiding citizens of them. Ii they will
not regard the tufts OF grass, let them be
pelted with stones. They have only to
obey the law and they will not be hurt.
If they with full knowledge of its penal
ties, wilfully transgress 1t let them not
whimper and whine when retribu,ive pun.
ishment is visited upon them.
Speaking of the methods employed in
the enforcement OF the law, Miss Cotton
says: "Some OF these are especially ag-
gravating and annoying to the dealers and
the law seems TO aim at making the trade
not only opprobrous but as expensive AS
possible"
Now is not that too bad Justice Cliff.
ford (Denocratlc) of the U. s. Supreme
court wrote that, ''the effort had been to
make the sale of liquor disreputable, and
TO conine the traffic to the lowest class OF
persons" Neal Dow in his recent letter
says: The traffic fingers yet, secretly and
on small scale, in our larger towns and
cities in the hands of the lowest and vilest
part of our foreign populations"
Now is ii not strange that the legislature
OF Maine should not ma Ike the execution
OF her criminal laws upon that class Of
persons, pleasant and enjoyable, instead OF
"aggrav ating and annoying?" that it
should not elevate and make respectable
the manufacture OF drunkards, instead oil
making the trade opprobrlous and expen-
, sive ?" The contemplation OF such legisla.
i, tion is uncomfortable, and Miss Cotton is
hereby besought to expostulate with the
> legislature, upon such cruel and oppres
, sive enactmeIts.
"AggravSting and annoying to the deal
ers ~ What right have they to be dealers
!, when the law forbids? If the law is dis
tasteful TO them let them seek its repeal IL
the proper way but while upon the statut,
book, let il be obeyed. The safety OF lh,
3 people rests upon obedience to law. Law
/, is the sovereign in u republican govern
u ment.
e Miss Cotton gives synopsis of the liq
/. nor laws OF the State, of which the follow.
~ ing will attract particular attention. ST.
further says:
!, "The method OF operating is briefly this
y The law absolutely forbids the sale OF an
= and all liquors, beer, ale and cider, AM
:, only allows it TO be sold by town agencie:
~ 1t is made the duty OF every sheriff to Sc
= the law is enforced and he is allowed
~ y. very liberal scale OF tees for every ssizur
50 So of contraband goods, every warrantabl
'e monition. This makes it renumeratlve TO
y number OF special deputies who prov
n around every suspected place, and haur
~ the depots and express offices. Uron I'll
=, appearance of any drug like liquor the
y seize it in the most expeditions way an
n cart it off TO place OF safe keeping The
>e the deputy makes oath before the Jude
~ that he believes the liquor was intende
y ,e for sale, and the judge then issues his wal
". rant directing deputies to seize the liquo
advertise 1t, or post it as a monition, an
y. summon the supposed owner to the neI
" y, court to answer for having liquor. On Al
~ pointment, the case comes on, ii there
~ any appearance OF the owner, and evident
60 is heard az to the real intention OF II
y owner. Ii it appears that it was for sal
n' the judge orders The liquor destroyed, m
~ imposes fine Of $50 on the owner. II
=. is a second offense the offender is fine
'Is SlOO and costs, and on third offense lie
u Ii fined and imprisoned IN Jail from thir
"' days TO three months"
at will be seen that if these provision
"e were vigorously enforced they would soc
hg drive the offenders out of the business
We Exactly so. Prohibition is the prop
mo- remedy and only needs TO be "vigoreus
ri enforced" 1t is enforced except "in Il
n larger towns and cities in the han,
Iv Of the lowest and vilest part of Il
l. foreign population" and it is to reach al
m squelch these that it is proposed TO raj
". tile crime of illegal liquor selling TO Il
n, grade OF felony. 1.-THE "lowest and vies
n. will not yield obedience to the law bl
no 80 TO the penitentiary and there rumina
10 upon the consequences OF vicious and Law
- less conduct.
a Miss Coltons letter clearly shows th
va while prohibition does not utterly anni
m late the liquor traffic in Maine, it prohi
er It's II to large extent, and because it pr
hibits the seller ot contraband rum al
their satellites complain.
mo rogue ere felt the halter draw,
With good opinion the law"
III prohibition WAS a failure, we shou
he hear no complaints or threats from Il
drunkard maker-there would be no o
by casion for them-he would be serene a.
happy.
cs That unfaithful officers may not execu
3 the laws with entire Partially, is high
Ii. probable, but the facts presented she
Ia. clearly that the public welfare demsn