The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-02-18
T4Ar HALE LOAF EXAMINED.

Thar HALF LoAF EXAMINED.
Editor Herqld:-It appears that number
of our representatives are proposing legisla-
tive enactments just now for the regulating
and controlling of the liquor traffic, not the
prohibition of the sale of intOxicants, for
prohibition won't prohibit" Does License
regulate? Who has petitioned the Legisla
ture of this Common wealth for six years TO
give us high license law. The proposed
high license scheme which you are pleased
to call half luaf' and think it is better
than no bread is not what the vast body
of christian men in Pennsylvania have been
asking for They have not asked the enact
ment of a temperance law, nor do they de-
mand prohibitory law at the hands of the
legislature but have. and do ask that the
people NAV vote on prohibitory amend
ment TO the constitution They ask this
because it is the right of the people 10 be
heard where laws are made for, and by, the
the consent of the governed The act of
submitting suci, proposition 10 vote OF
the people has nothing to do With the ques-
ton, as TO whether prohibition prohibits or
not, If the strict enforcement of prohbi-
tory lows is an absolute impos.ibility. | do
not see why that should be an obstacle
against submitting the question to a vote of
the people, or even against q prohibitory
law itself Is the strict enforcement of the
license law a possibility Where is it en-
forced II is violated in country districts,
towns and cities. but the prohibltory law Of
Iowa as observed by the commission Of in
quiry to which you refer, has restrained
the sale of liquor in the country districts, y
which is more than the license law has ever
done anywhere. for it has made selling easy
and drinking plentiful.
The Iowa law has been in force but sew
en- months, and many declare it to be mot a
very conspicuous success" Wait until Iowa
has tried prohibition as long as We have
better citizens, better homes. and more iu-
telligence with less crime. and put the IL
cense farce conspicuously into the shade,
then there will be time enough for someone
to raise the howl of failure.
The high license propositions new being
discussed by the Representatives at Harri,-
burg are an imposition on the people, be-
cause the popular demand of the intelligent
people of this State has not been for high Ii.
cense, but for the = half loaf ofbread allpt
ted to every free man of America at the bal
lot boz. Call high license . half loaf y
it is more it is q whole loaf of poison The
people have been treated to ipecac long
enough. l say give US the legislation de-
manded, and well callit bread. The liquor
men know which side Of that bread is but
tered, hence their resistance.
The testimony Of a liquor organ The Re-
taller, of New York-might be in place
right here The Retailer said some time ago
concerning those temperance men who sup
port high license "In Ohio it is wicked to
sell beer unless a man pays 500 to benefit
parties who do not sell. What a wonder
ful intellect it must have required to solve
50 important problem, and find the exact
amount required to make the selling of in
toxicants an upright and honest business.
What an immense amount of drunkenness
this 90 will stop, or rather cover up. 50 the
temperance fanatics cannot see 1t what an
excellent pouitice few greenbacks make
when applied to the eyes Of fanatical dema-
gogues, and how ii will soothe their horror
stricken c,nsciencesr
The High License Law has been q mag
nificen' failure IN a numbr afthe western
stases. an amounts to nothing but a defer
mined effort TO thrortie any legislation aim
ing q prob bit,ry amendment To the con-
stitution. 1t Is an attempt To make legsIiz-
ID da'nnation decent, Eevertheiess. il such