The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-03-22
Temperance Reading.
THE LAW AND ORDER LEAGUE.

THE LAW AND ORDER LEAGUE.
Whether the absolute prohibition or
the regulation of the liquor traffic be the
system best adapted to restrain in-
temperance is a question on which good
men may differ But, whether the law
of the State be prohibitory or license,
good citizens must agree that it should
be enforced. Many earnest Temperance
workers, in their eagerness to utterly
Danish the accursed cup from the land,
do scant justice to the wisdom of the
laws concerning the sale of intoxicants
now on the statute books. In most
States, notably in Massachusetts, this
code of laws is conceived with great
judgment and good sense. If these laws
were enforced, it is safe to say that in
temperance would be as effectuallv con-
trolled as under prohibitory regime.
That they are not enforced is the weak
point of the license system. The Lii
cense law of Massachusetts provides.
among other things, that every seller OF
intoxicating liquors shall be person of
good moral character; that the liquor
sold shall be of good quality and free
from adulteratiOn; that no liquor shall
be sold to a drunkard or to any person
known to have been intoxicated within
six months; that no liquor shall be sold
to minor, either for himself or for the
use of any other person; that no liquor
| shall be sold on the Lord Day, or be-
| tween the hours of midnight and six
o'clock in the morning, and that no
| open bars shall exist within four
hundred feet of school-house. The
laws are excellent, but they have
never been Systematically enforced.
A movement looking toward the bet
ter enforcement of existing Liquor laws
has been recently started. The Citizens
Law and Order League has for its
avowed purpose the enforcing of what
ever laws regulating the liquor traffic
| the statutes may contain. 1t asks no
new enactment. Its watchwOrd is:
eve ask only obedience to law" A
movement so wise and so temperate has
| commended itself to the Judgment of
law-abiding citizens in all our principal
cities and smaller towns, and the cause
has grown apace. The organization of
League is very simple. 1t has one
active officer, either President or Secre-
tary, who devotes a large part of his
|
An attorney is employed in the interest
of the society, who manages the cases
! that are brought into the jurisdiction of
the courts. The law and order move
ment is an aggressive movement. 1t
passes no resolutions; it circulates few,
if any petitions. 1t is an honest, work
ing force.
Some Of the results accomplished by
the various Leagues may be briefly no
ticed. The Chicago League has been
in operation for five years. At the time
of its organization it was estimated that
thirty thousand boys and girls were
daily patrons Of the saloons. To save
! these children has been the aim of the
League. 1t has prosecuted sixteen hun
dred liquor dealers, and secured twelve
hundred convictions. The members of
the League have visited over three thou
sand homes, and secured pledges from
many children not to visit saloons. In
this work it is believed that million
dollars have been diverted from the till
of the bar keeper to the homes of the
city. The Massachusetts, League was
formed less than two years ago, but it
is safe to say that in that short time sa-
loon-keepers have received many salu-
tary lessons, and have been taught to
respect the law. The wor., which it is
doing for children is especially crafty
ing. The Secretary believes that not
one sale of liquor is now made to minors
in Boston where one year ago ten were
made. In one town in MiddleseX Coun-
ty ten saloons were hcurishing in close
proximity to school houses when the
League was formed. These have been
obliged to close their business.
The most hopeful sign in this move
ment is the great interest, almost en-
thusasm, with which it is greeted all
over the country Seventeen branches
in as many different towns have already
been formed in Massachusetts, and
from all sides questions are pouring in
in regard to the methods of work and
it's results. A convention, representing
eight States. has recently met in Bos-
ton, and as q result National League
was formed in the hope of spreading the
interest in law and order to every part
of the land. Also a grand Temperance
meeting was held at fremont Temple.
The strong point OF this new movement
is that it gathers to itself all good citi-
zens of whatever shade of Temperance
opinion, and forms them into solid
phalanX to meet a common toe.-