The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-13
A Strong Movement Having for It's Object
the Raising of the Price of Liquor Lii
cenSes to One Thousand Dollars.
Meetings at Which Queer and CHASTITY
Medical Novelties Are Exhibited.
Dr. G. F. Shradys Method of Producing Ozone
in Large Quantities-A Mugwump Jour-
nal Preparing to Return to the Fold.
TEMPERANCE ACTIVITY.
Politicians Alarmed Over Threat to Make
High License an Issue.

Politicians Alarmed Over a Threat to Make
High License an Issue.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
New YORK, Sept 12-The managing politi-
clans of both parties are greatly alarmed by the
temperance people, who threaten to force the
high-license question into the impending State
campaign. Copies of proposed excise bill are
to-day being mailed in great numbers to clergy
men, editors and other men of influence through
out the State The source Of this sudden dem
onstration is the Church Temperance Society,
an organization of only year age. but powerful
by reason of the official countenarce it gets from
the Protestant Episcopal bishops and the leading
clericals of other denominations. The venerable
Bishop Potter presided over the series Of quiet
conferences in which q form Of new law
was discussed. While the sentiment Of the
debaters was almost all for prohibition, large
majority believed that the abolition of the
liquor traffic was an absurd undertaking, and
that the only practicable measure Of reform was
30 high license fee that the number of saloons
would decrease, the quality of the remainder
improve, and heavy public revenue result
Having agreed on policy, a committee consist
ing of assistant Bishop Henry c. Potter, the
Rev. DR.. Howard Crosby and the Rev. DR.. John
Hall set to work bill, and it is their produc-
tion that is now being mailed. For licenses of
the first class in cities of 800 900 the fee is to be
not less than $1,000 This would apply only to
New York and Brooklyn. Elsewhere in the
State the price proposed is $500. The fees for
selling malt beverages only are half those for
spirits. The regulations are few calling simply
for the closure of bars on Sundays and after /
o'clock in the morning and certain degree of
decency IN the conduct of the business. The
intention of the promoters of this measure is to
incite demand upon nominees for the Legis!a-
ture to commit themselves to vote for the Ugh
license bill. Furthermore they will try hard to
to be made in the two Saratoga
conventions of the present month. If this were
an ordinary onslaught by total abstainers no
perturbed attention would be paid to it, but the
difficulty which it brings to the party managers
is that considerable portion of the liquor inter-
est favors high license The millionaire brewers
seem to be about equally divided in sentiment,
for some of them wish the distinction to be drawn
between them and the distillers. The keepers
of the more fashionable and prosperous bars,
too. would be glad to pay big fees in order to
drive the little concerns out of the trade So
the politicians are all at sea about it. and some
decision will surely have to be made at Saratoga.
DR.. Crosby says that he positively knows Presi-
direct assurance from him that he will enjoin it
upon the party for this campaign The church
temperance society is very hopeful that, with
their rather conservative influence. and in the
absence of united opposition by the liquor trade,
the measure can be successful.