The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1884-12-06
che Aiuon !Tribnne.
High License.

No service could be more valuable, or
,,,,,ibut,. more to the solution of the TEN.
,.rauce question, than the discussion of its
,o,uv phases now carried Oh in the "Oren
letters" department Of the Century Jfdg.
,.;vc But the article entitled "Morc About
law and Order Leagues" closes will, a
se,tence which seems to me misleading.
though Internationally SO, / doubt not, in
that it conveys the impression of the Wig
mn, efficiency Of the higl-license law now
<rsrativc in Illinois. The sentence reads
nc follows: 1.-The law is now being Wig
,rously enforced" That it is not being
vigorously enforced in Chicago may be
discovered any day at the City Hall,
where the books will show that nearly
1000 saloons are paying into the city treas
urv $40; each for the year ending April /.
1884,. The CITY Council took pains before
the law came into effect Uuly /, 1850 to
issue these licenses for the period named at
double the old municipal rates, and the At.
torney General of the State has given an
opinion favorable to this evasion Of the in
tent and purpose of the act
At least dozen other towns and cities
whose operations have come under my
own observation have adopted the same
device for making the law of no effect, and
probably this number might be multiplied
tenfoid by persons equally cognizant OF the
facts in the case, all Of which must be CON
sidercd large abatement in the vigorous
enforcement of the law.
enforced, as we'll as the law it has super.
seeded, will doubtless be conceded Ivy all,
but this is a weak recommendation surely.
Law and Order Leagues have been found
necessary to secure this enforcement. In
q few conspicuous instances it has eonsid.
crably diminished the number Of saloons,
but it is nowhere claimed, to my knowl-
edge, and I have been at much pains to ar
rive at the truth, that it has lessened drunk
ness or the sales Of liquor.
The high license law is regarded by the
Womcn'> Christian Temperance Union
first, as unjust, because tending to create ;
monopoly in liquor selling-to build upthe
powerful dealers who already do the mos
harm, and to crush out the weak ones, who
do the least; secondly, as unwisc tinan
cally, because if the dealer pays $500, in
stead of $loo, for his permit to engage II
the business, he must certainly prosecute
his trade more vigorously to win back thu
extra $500, which has gone into the city''
Golfers, thus producing more misery. pow
erty and crime; thirdly, as unwise morally
because it lends responsibility and tone tt
the dealers who can afford the tax, and in
creascs their ability to lure "the weak
brother" and the sons OF respectable home.
and parentage; tourthly, as unchristian
because it is, like all license laws, recog
milton and permission OF Il traffic which i.
Il crime against civil and sin against iii
vine government. 1t is also such a recog
milton ana Endorsement AS tends to rcrpet
uate rather thar, weaken or overthrow tho
system.
These are the views Of nearly one hun
drew thousand mothers OF our land. The
palace saloon is our terror. Make the sien'
OF sorrow, vice and shame less respectable
if you can, rather than raise their level Il
the pathway where our sons walk unsus
pecling, and guarded by every device
which mothers love can sugyc,t.-Alar
Il. Willard.