Los Angeles daily herald., 1885-12-09
How. Not TO Do n.

Los ANGELES, Dec q, 1888.
EDIToR HERALD: 1t seems to me that
the course of the Republican Council in
their high license action will never touch
the question of the evil of liquor, much
less tend to remove it.. The trouble with
these, our rulers, is the same as with
others of their party in authority, nota-
bly in Maine and Kansas, they seek to
make things better by crusading against
the use, when by all legitimate rules,
and by experience most valuable, to
eradicate the abuse is the only possible
solution of the question.
Their high license not only tends to
monopolize the saloon business in the
hands of few, debarring from the pur'
suit, perhaps, poor people, the only oh.
lection to whom is because they are poor,
but actually placing premium upon the
getting of money in the business by fair
means or foul. And the situation to-day
in the city of Los Angeles, so far as CON
Germs the treatment OF the liquor ques-
ton by our municipal government. pre-.
sents this feature, or it presents no feat'
ure at all. A more shameless, more
absurd, a more disgusting spectacle
could not possibly appear, and yet the
| people are told that the weak high Ii
cense scheme and the still weaker high
license Council should be worshipped
and accepted as the remedy OF all rene
dies.
The sole way to treat this matter is tc
elevate and make the business respecta
BILE, as far us possible this, high license
has never done and can never do. Ele
vate il by ordinances prohibiting the
sale of liquor TO minors and drunkards,
and requiring proper bonds, Elevate il
by discriminating properly in the
issuance OF permits to do business
TO the end that only reputable per
sous be tolerated, and when robberies
or dens of inamy come to
pass, why speedy revocation of any
permits under that head-no matter to
whom issued-elevate it by giving the
persons who follow the pursuit to un-
derstand that they shall be gwen an OPP
portunity to rank better, and the only
requirement is cooperative action on
their part. As to the matter of license,
why the sale Of wine per sc should only
be taxed nominally, while the saloon
| keeper proper should be held to pay ac'
cording to the sum of business transact.
ed, lust as any other dealer, as it is
manifestly unfair and OF no profit TO the
community to tax the seller of one gal.
lon of liquor as much as the seller OF
one hundred. The reason of a line be-
ing drawn between the sale of wine and
general business is manifest. Wine is
the great proouct of the country, and
history and experience proves that there
is not only less drunkenness and less
crime, but actually more robust health
and longevity, in the wine countries OF
Europe than any other part OF the uni
verse.
| In conclusion, rs a matter of policy,
sobriety and observance of the law and
health and longevity aside, it would be
| lust as proper for the municipal govern
meuts of Arkansas and Mississippi tC
stihe trade in cotton; for these of Louis
| iania TO stiile that in sugar, or for those
| of Illinois or Iowa 20 take by the neck
| the wheat traffic, as for the powers oI
Southern California to stamp out the
wine industry. And in this | am simply
stating Democratic doctrine. Yours,
Is.