The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-02-23
I'hs Liquor Traffic.

to my feeble efforts last week on the
licohse question I thank you also for
your friendly criticism. While | adj
mire and commend your courage in
pointing out what you no doubt deem
false in my argument, as viewed from
your standpoint, must beg permission
to ssens from yours. am aware thai
it is akin to "bearding a lion IN his
DEM to critieise an editor, but trust
YOU will allow me to do so for the sake Of
evolving the truth that lies at the bot
tom Of this question.
It is not my purpose to wage a sense
less crusade against the traffic, out of a
morbid and itching desire for notoriety,
but with an earnest desire that good
may result from calm and dispassion-
ate investigation of the subject on its
merits.
Quoting my article yon say, ''why
prohibit the drink-seller er from selling by
the glass when the druggist can sell the
same article in less or greater quaint
ties, without licensel" and then an
swer, "now this is statement that
does not exist, for when a gentleman
of Glendale attempted to dispose of in
toxifating liquors as a beverage, under
the cloak of druggist, he had to pay
the penalty Of broken law" Now,
Mr. Editor, that very thing [ had in
view when penned the article which
rou assail I am charitable enough to
believe you had overlooked or did not
notice the point [ made, or you would
not, with your known legal acumen,
lave thus offered such an answer. [
emphatically stated, 'it is not the char
acter of the article sold, nor the amount,
but the manner in which, and the pur-
poses for which LIQUOR is sold, that has
led our Legislators to semi-prohibit on a
condition" etc; plainly referring to
the fact that when liquor is sold as d
beverage, which was the pivotal point
of M argument, then its sale as snch
was prohibited by law, except upon the
I
conditions named. While the drug
gist sells it as drug, for medicinal,
mechanical or chemical purposes, no
license is required. Your play npon
the words "saloon" and "druggist,"
thin k, upon reflection, you will perceive
will not apply.
In regard to your structures upon nv
statement that licenses are not levied
for / evenue purposes, must, with all
Difference to your legal knowledge, re-
iterate my statement; for not dollar
of the licenses go into the State reve
nues. | understand that the State, as
you are aware, has so far as the public
revenue is concerned, but two sources
of raising it, viz: poll tax and tax on
the dollar valuation Of real and per-
sonal property; and the property of the
saloons pay their assessed share, the
same as the merchant or farmer.
have conversed with many intelligent
advocates of license, and all, so far al
l remember, not excepting yourself
concede that as the traffic imposes s
burden on society it si.ould be bur
dened with excise duties, to reimburst
the expenses it causes, and that is tn,
sole ground of the argument I hav,
ever been able to get from the advocates
of license.
You say ''the State has the undis
puted right to license, regulate and con
troll the traffic, the same as all othe
obnobious trades" It is an obnoxious
trade, and as such we wish the consti
tuition and laws amended SO as to con-
troll 1t, because of its obnoxious charac
ter; for license does not either regulat
OF control it, but, as you justly remark
"the habit of drinking is gradual,
stealing upon the rising generation.
This is woefully true, Mr.. Editor, ant
, license gives it authority to steal
Your structures upon the laxity of NOR
ais of citizens of Roseburg; drinking
gambling and consorting with China
men, courtesans and dead beats, wher
children are permitted to enter an,
gaze upon these spectacles," ETC..
think are appropo and truthful. If W
had a constitutional prohibition o
drinking saloons, with legal enactment
and penalties for Offering to sell as
beverage, all these evils you speak Q
would be very much curtailed. Thes
drinking saloons are schools of vice an,
SO long as they have the sanction Q
law they will continue to debauch, no
only the young men, but the more ad
vanced in years; ''fumbling greas
7 pasteboards, loosing their manhood an
uniting them for the duties of either
| ship. |"
a The press is grand educator;