The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-25
PROHIBITION IN OHIO.
OF THE LIQUOR QUESTION.
what the Temperance P.Opl. Rave DOn.-Wh..
They D.sirs-The Scott LAw-Its Eject Upon
the Liquor Tranle-Hhat salOouiSts Think -.
dIt-I1p,etstIOus Of ProhIbltiOaIsts.

Correspondence otthe IHteliOsneer.
CoLyNpus, O., May 2S.-The present
excitement, in Ohio on the liquor question
is the legitimate result Of several years ol
agitation Of the subject, encouraged and
fostered by the W. G. T. u, President
Thompson OF otterbein Uniyersity,I and
Hon. Gideon T. Stewart Of Eorwalk, 10.
gether with number Of lesser lights but
not less earnest workers in the cause.
The constitution Of Ohio forbids the
licensing Of the liquor traffic, and the State
for many years has practically had free
whisky. Ten years ago DR. Dio Lewis in.
augurated, or, rather, unwittingly precipi.
tated the crusade. It spread over the State
like wildfre, closing hundreds Of saloons,
and reforming thousands Of drunkards.! The
final results were not as satisfactory how.
ever as had been anticipated, most OF the
saloons reopening, and the vast majority oi
the drinkers going back to their cups.
But though the positive results were not
very promising, public sentiment was
aroused against the trade, and this
feeling constantly grew; finding a sec.
ond opportunity to manifest itself in
the Murphy movement. So great
was the success Of this newer and
more popular method OF reforming the
dipsomaniac, that the Temperance people
became possessed OF the idea that with tho
prestige Of the blue ribbon victory back OF
them, they could elect a prohibition ticket.
Accordingly the Murphy army was picked
up and thrown neck. and heels, Unto the
fray. That killed the Murphy movement
in Ohio with neatness and dispatch, or
words to that effect. Since that time the
Temperance army has made no open battle,
but constant agitation has been in pro.
gress, and the depth and influence ofthe
work is evidenced by the continued fght
over the question in the Legislature the
past four years, and the too numerous abor-
tive attempts at legislation. a..ts
EARLY ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN LEGISLATION.
Six years ago the question had assumed
such proportions that the Republican State
Convention in session at Cleveland felt
called upon to insert plank in its plat
form touching sumptuary laws, with special
reference to the liquor question. Hon.
William West, Of Bellfontaine, was the
candidate for Governor, and acknowledged
the honor in that somewhat famous and
much cursed speech which is popularly
supposed to have defeated the blind sage.
At the next convention the people were
promised that II the Republican,party;
again tplaced in power, 1t would give. the
voters an opportunity to pass upon con-
stitutional amendment providing for the
regulation OF the whisky business. With
this distinct understanding and pledge, q
Republican Legislature was elected.
Scarcely was il in session before it began a
series OF dilatory and evasive measures,
designed to avoid submitting to the people
constitutional amendment The people,
at first aStonishsd, demonstrated, then grew
indignant. Petition after petition was laid
before the Legislature. Finally, as a desper.
ate measure, the Pond and Smith bills were
enacted, and instantly Ohio was tho scene,of
the most vigorous kick II had ever known.
The saloon men led on by the brewers,
raised cry that rent the very heavens. AS
protest II was o bowling success. The
btLuuCtutst lehiii tHht IL lut new lhWb
were declared constitutional, they would
be compelled to fall back upon water, u
liquid Of which many Ohio Democrats are
said TO have heard, but few drank, focked
10 the brewer'o stand and with unusual
sagacity the leaders espoused the cause Of
the whisky men, seeing in 1t an opportu.
nifty to gain in the liquor vote, The spring
elections coming on, the Republicans were
overwhelmingly defeated, and soon after,
on IN advance case, the: Pond and Smith
laws were declared unconstitutional. There
can be no doubt that many prohihitiohlsts
voted with the Democrats at this ELECTION
to show their disapproval Of any licenge
law whatever. They will be content, SO
they declare, with nothing short Of prohlbi.
tion will suit them,
TIE SCOTT LAW.
When the Legislature assembled last fall,
It was seen that decisive measures must be
taken, or the party would be held respon!
sible by the people, and out Of this feeling
came the two proposed constitutional
amendmendts 10 be voted upon this fall and
the Scott law, not dissimilar, in many re.
spects to the Pond law, but wanting its
Objectionable features.
The Scott law is designed to place a
wholesome restraint upon the Traffic, and
at the same time protect those who pay
the tax. The fatal objection TO the Pond
law was that while 1t exacted high, even
burdensome sum from the seller, il gave
him absolutely no protection. 1t said you
shall not sell, but II you do you must pay
from 500 to $500, and II you pay the sum
and do sell we will mulct you In the
highest sum allowed by the law. The
Scott law, like the Pond, graduates the
tax, but according to what is sold and not
according to the population Of the place as
did the Pond bill. Under the Scott law
retail sellers Of malt liquors pay Shopper
year tax, and dealers in whisky $500.
Those who pay either OF these amounts are
given protection during the current year
for which the tax Is paid, provided they
sell within the law. The bill also provides
that where incorporated villages so elect by
act Of council, they may close up the sa-
looms within the corporation line. Imme.
diately following the passage Of the bill the
Democrats raised the cry against sumptu.
ary laws and championed the cause OF the
saloonists. The first feeling OF the saloon
men was bitterly hostile to the law, but as
the days passed by, one by one the saloon
men begin to realize that the law Ia a very
Just one in all respects. -.. -
THE JUSTICE or TIE MEASURE.
For upwards Of twenty years the saloon.
men have been free from tax or license; the
people Of the State are thoroughly aroused