West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1885-01-14
The Issue in Ohio.
Governor Hoddy Reaterates much oft
Exploded Nonsense, and gets an a
little Truth.
Recommends a Graded License
amendment.

Recommends q Graded License
amendment.
Governor Hoadly, of Ohio, in his
annual Message, after reviewing
the Supreme Court decision, an
nulling the Scott Law, proceeds as
follows:
But the people of 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 restrictive remedies.
Three plans of action are proposed.
FIRST, Prohibition, to be accom-
panied by constitutional amend
ment and subsequent legal enact
ment. Believing the evil against
which we have to contend is in the
abuse, not the use, in the exces-
sive, not the moderate use of in
toxicating drinks, | would not vote
for such an amendment, and can
not advise it's submission to popu-
lar vote. Its adoption would be an
invasion of individual liberty,
which no majority has the moral
right to prescribe to an unwilling
minority. The most sober ma
tions of the world are those in
which wine and beer are freely
and benefcially used as beverages,
and not among the most sober are
those American States in which
resort has been had to legal pro-
hibition. The increase of forty
per cent. from 1880 to 1888, in the
number of dealers licensed by the
Federal Govern ment to sell intox-
icating liquors in the State of
Maine, plainly indicates that this
method of restraint will be inef-
fectual against the cravings of a
common appetite, without the sus-
tanning power of a general public
opinion, or of dominant religious
sentiment, as in Mahommedan
countries.
That prohibition of the manufac-
ture may be easily effected, l do
not doubt. Every brewery and
distillery in Ohio may be driven
into Kentucky and Indiana, and
ruin dealt to some of the branches
of domestic industry now most
fourishing. But this will not d.
minish drinking or reduce sales
it will only transfer the manufac-
ture, with its profits, to other
States, and lessen the revenues both
of citizens and the State.
Nevertheless, the evil, the ex-
cessive use of liquor, is real, and
it is the duty of every good citizen
to aid in batting it both by
precept, example and vote. Two
other remedies are proposed:
Secondly. The repeal of the seized
ule Section Is, which forbids Ii
censes and empowers the General
Assembly to provide by law only
against the evils resulting from
the sale of intoxicating liquors
Such repeal would leave the Gen
eral Assembly free to prohibit, tc
license, or to adopt free trade-in
short, to fight the evil in any way
or to let it alone.
Thirdly. The submission to pop
ular vote of a constitutional
amendment providing for a Ii.
cense system with graduated taxa
ton. The choice is really between
license and prohibition. Doubt
can not be entertained that if we
tall to secure an effective system Of
restricted license and taxation,
prohibition will follow.
The advantages of license sys.
tenn are obvious. The relief fur
nlshed to the taxpayers in 1888 by
the Scott Law may be cited as one
OF Its benefits. 1t supplies the