The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-07

iaVOrs mixed schools in place oil separate
schools for white children and colored
children.
THE LIQUOR QUESTION. ID
8[uchspaee isdevoted to theliquor ques-
ton on this subject the Governor says:
The people in Ohio are in no mood to
leave the subject as it is. There will be
change. Free trade in intoxicating drinks
has been permitted SO. long that the
patience of the people has been outworn
and the choice is now only between re-
strictiye remedies. Three plans OF action
are proposed:'
First, prohibition, to be accomplished
by Constitutional Amendment and subse-
quent legal enactment. Believing that
the evil against which we have to con-
tend, is in the abuse, not the use, in the
excessive, not the moderate use OF intoxi-
eating drinks, would not vote for such
an amendment, and cannot advise its sub.
mission to popular vote. Its adoption
would be an invasion nofindividualli liberty,
which no majority has tho moral right to
prescribe to an. unwilling minority. The
most sOhe- nations OF the world are those
in which wine and beer are freely and
beneiicially used as beverages, and not
among the most sober are those American
States in which resort has been had to
legal prohibition. The increase of forty
percent, from 1850 to 1883, in the number
ui dealers licensed by the Federal Govern
ment TO sell intoxicating liquors in the
State Of Maine, plainly Indicate that this
method of restraint will be Intellectual
against the cravings OF Scommon appe-
lite, without the sustaining power OF q
public opinion, or Of dominant religious
sentiment, rs in Mahommedan countries.
That prohibition OF the manufacture
may be easily uiTected, do not doubt.
Every ry.brewery and distillery in Ohio may
be driven into Kentucky and Indians, and
ruin dealt to some Of the branches OF do
nestle industry now most hourishing.
But this will not diminish drinking or re-
luce sales; it will only transfer the man
ulacttire, with its profits, to other States,
aud lesscn'the revenues both OF citizens
and the State.
REAL EVIL.
Nevertheless the evil, the excessive use
of liquor is real, and it is the duty Of eyy
cry good citizen to aid in combating it
both by precept, example and vote. Two
other remedies are proposed:
secondly,th repealof theschedule ofsec
ton ls, which forbidslicenses and empow-
ers the General Assembly to provide by
law only against the evils resulting
from thesale ofintoxicating liquors. Such
a repeal would leave the General Assem-
bly, free to prohibit, to license, or b adopt
free trade-in short, to fight the evil in
any way, or TO let ii alone. The objection
TO this plan OF action is, first, that it equal
ly permits free trade and prohibition, and;
secondly, thatit it settles nothing. On
the contrary, it makes the temperance
question the controlling issue in Ohio pol.
ttics for the future. Doubtless this would
be better than to adopt prohibition as a
permanent system by Constitutional
Amendment, for it does leave the people
free to contend biennially against inter
ference by sumptuary laws with their hab-
its OF life, and 10 sustain the power and
duty OF individual seli.control, but re-
spectiully submit that there is stilla wiser
plan OF action, viz:
hhabEb sAAsAAAESNs
! Thirdly, the submission to popular vote
Of constitutional amendment providing
for license system with graded taxation.
The choice isreally between license and
prohibition. Doubt cannot be entertain
ed that If we fail to secure an effective
system OF restricted license and taxation,
prohibition will follow. ta e
The advantages OF license system are
obvious. The relief furnished to the tax
payers in 1883 by the Scott law may be
cited as one OF It's benefits. 1t supplies
the money required to pay the expenses
caused to the commonwealth by excessive
drinking. But it does more. Under this
system, men of bad repute can be pre-.
vented from engaging in the traffic, Glow
dives" can be broken up, those who con-
duct 1t illegally can be denied renewals
OF their licenses, saloons canbe kept away
from situations where they give offence,
the hours and methods OF the traffic can
he regulated, and generally this business,
while protected in its lawful exercise, can
DO kept within that strict control neces-
sary to preserve its usefulness, with the
minimum OF dangers.
The decision adverse to the constitu.
tionality OF the Scott law withdraws o
large revenue. II also involves the duty
Of refunding taxes to those from whom
they have been illegally collected. twill
be your duty to provide means for en-.
abling these inconyeniences to be met and
overcome. The people have had for one
year the advantage Of one feature oil q
license system, viz: its revenues. That
they must now refund them TO the indi,
vidnals from whom they have been lille,
rally Withdrawn, furnishes no reason why
there should not be renewed attempt
constitutionally made; to secure the enjoy
ment OF its benefits.
UNSETTLED QUESTIONS.
Tho question has not yet been presented
tothe Supreme Court whether the ninth
tenth and eleventh sections Of the Scot
law constitute part Of the uneonstitutional
scheme, or whether they can be separated
60 as to be saved from judicial condemns
ton. II there be doubt as TO this, itshould
be removed by legislation. The ninth
section was cast In an amended form by
the present General Assembly by the acI
Of April IA, 1884 Isl o. L. 204). II II bt
desired TO preserve this. section in thil
form, 1t viii be prudent to re.enactit. The
Scott law undertook 10 amend sections
Og4l and 6el4, and thus TO make lawful The
sale OF Intoxicating liquors to be drank OF
the premises, TO punish more severel!
sales 10 minors and intoxicated persons
and TO delegate the control Of tho sale o
beer and wine on Sunday to muni
cipal corporations. 1.-THE whole Scott Law
be condemned as unconstitutional, thei
original sections 69il and 6oi4 are in force
This should not be left In doubt, and tn
EScott and Pond laws, having both beel
held unconstitutional, should be repealed
as unnecessarily cumbering the statut
books.