The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-05-02
[ Published by Request
THIGH LICENSE
An Elaborate and Exhaustive Argument
by One Who Believes in Killing the
Ola Wolf Rather Than
Fostering Her Cubs.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.

| LCoNTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
VII.
1t Is to be further objected to high
license that it is temporary makeshift
Prohibition sentiment has advanced SO
rapidly of late that something had to
be done by its opponents. The day OF
judgment is just ahead it must be
postponed. Sentence has already been
partially executed upon one political
party, which, by its imitation of Bun
vans Mr.. Facing both-ways, has PROV
en- itself false to its first principles, and
too blind to follow in the direction of
its true interests. And now the old
demon License trembles in his lair. A
high price for PERMISSION to sell has
been settled upon as the correct thing
to block the wheels of this progress.
1--WE make no war on the saloons"
says the Jefferson City, Mo, DAILY 7r1-
6Hue, in an editorial bemoaning viola
tons Of the Missouri high license law,
but, on the contrary, have opposed
prohibition, and advocated the Down
ing law, believing it would be a death
blow to prohibition, elevate the liquor
traffic, and put it on surer foundation.
No man who opposes prohibition could
urge any objection to the provisions of
the Downing law the anti-prohibition-
lists urged its passage, believing it would
check the growing sentiment in favor
OF prohibition in this state" This ed
itor is either clearer sighted or more
candid than some nearer home. This
reveals the spirit of the movement. The
Downing law, however, is not enforced :;
and prohibition continues to grow in
favor in Missouri. High license may
prove to be 'the Missouri compromise
of the liquor traffic" If it is, it will
check the growth of prohibition no
longer than the growth of abolition was
retarded. 1t might as we'll be at once
understood that high license will save
neither the liquor traffic nor the Re-
publican party, if it leans that way.
High license has proved to be fail
ure in practice. Testimony to this fact
may easily be multiplied by any one
who cares enough for the facts to inves-
tlgate. Elmwood, Illinois, population
1000, is an instance. The town had
been under prohibition. High license
was adopted year ago last April, and
fixed at $500. Its saloons are making
money and the city, for the first tine
in long period, is in debt. "The
policeman, a reformed man, fell on the
opening of the saloons, committed muir
der, and involved the town in suits
which have drained its treasury and
overtaxed its people," Rockford, Hi
nois, previously a no license town, three
years ago elected a license council.
$500 was charged. Immediately it was
found necessary to increase the police
force from one to eight, and police
magistrates court had to be inaugural
ed for the Ti iii t+i t4.fs in the history of
the place. Thus the license none
has been used up, and nobody has beef
even financially the gamer. In Mis-
souri, the law is shown to be failur,
| by the tacit confession of its ewn sup
porters, Gov. Marmaduke among tn
rest. In Nebraska, where the licens,
fee is $1,000, Hon. H. w. Hardy, ex
mayor of Lincoln, the originator of thu
idea there, and all its first friends, tenn
perance men such as John B. Finch
unite in declaring it an awful failure
1t fails to answer the expectations of it.
friends in every particular in which
good results are claimed for it.
1. In many cases the number O
drinking houses is only slightly dimin
ished, or not at all. In Nebraska tn,
number dropped from 1870 to LII.
the first year, under ST. license
Next year it rose to I,I73, and is still
increasing. Retail houses decreased
slightly, while wholesale houses in
creased. That is, more liquor was solo
for home and club consumption. Ii
| Des MONIES, Iowa, the records of til,
city clerk give these figures In 1871
with the license fee at $50, there were
IL saloons. Ii 1872, with license a
$500, there was IS saloons. In 1880
with license at $3.50, there were 40
And in 1882, with license at $1,000
there were 60 saloons. Where higl
license does result in a reduced mum
Der of bar-rooms, this benefit is NOR,
than Offset by the addition of new ane
worse features by those that remain
"Many saloons have house of prosti
tuition as an annex, while most of then
run gambling hell.' The stock O
liquor is piled with cheap drugs to swell
its dimensions. Anything and every
thing is resorted to that will help brin.
back that license fee to the till and in
crease the profits. Men do not 60 into
this business on philanthropic princi
pies, or because they are "well disposed
to the good of society,"" They ar,
bound to make 1t pay.
2. Unlicensed houses are not closed
1t is said 'the man who pays a s5oe
license is not likely to tolerate an un
licensed GROCERY near by" Well, i
might be thought that a man who pay:
a $50 license would not be likely te