The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-12-16
NIB. JOHN DANNER
Addresses Communication to the RepOsIs
tory, on the Liquor Question.

tory, on the Liquor Question.
' EDITOR DEMOCRAT:-As you are we'll
aware am neither q Democrat nor a
Republican, but hold views on the
liquor traffic that are entertained by
multltudes Of voters In both the great
political parties, and when | write facts
that interest these good men, and am
refused hearing in the Republican
Lress, IL Is quite natural to look to the
DEMOCRATIC press, as we have no organ
or our own, and yet help to support
both. Such Is the case with the follow
ing article, which | wrote for the Re-
posltory week ago, and which the edi-
Tor at one time felt inclined to publish,
out hnally refused, saying that many
members OF the party were opposed to
anything OF the kind. l therefore re-
quest that you insert the same In the
DEMOCRAT, asking your candid criticism
on the same. JOHN DANNER.
WILL THEY DO TIP
EDITOR REPosIToRY:-You have fire.
quently said let the tax of the Dow law
be raised; many others are saying, let
the local option feature of said law be
extended to townships and counties;
and still others are anxious that the
feature In said law which permits
saloons to be kept open on Sunday should
be eliminated. There Is no kind of
doubt but that a great majority of the
best citizens of the State desire all these
things, out the question arises, will the
Legislature grant either. It will be re-
mem6ered that the fourteen Republican
members Of the General Assembly from
cincinnati last fall could not get the
support Of the YOlksblatt until they
had pledged themselves not to
do anything for local option or
prohibition; several other members from
Toledo and Cleveland are known to be
opposed to any such measure, and such
being the case can see no hope for
amending the Dow law in either par
tlC0lar referred to. The Democratic
members never did sustain the law In
its original shape, and 1t is not at all
likely they will favor any amendment
more severe on the saloons; they are
pledged by all their platforms for Ii
cense. The Cincinnati Enquirer of the
l4!h inst. published some interviews
with Cincinnati representatives, and
the following IL the result:
Senator George HRrdacTe was asked:
"What about the Dow lRwl What will
the Legislature do If it is found uncOn-
stitutiOnalw
Here is his reply:
''In the first place 1t will not be found
unconstitutional. You can depend on
that. would not vote to change at all.
believe In letting we'll enough alone.
They will attempt to tack some more
local option on to 1t and introduce q
Sunday CLOSING bill. / Twill be against
such measures. believe we should let
the liquor business severely alone this
winter"
Senator James o. Richardson:
Il do not think any thing will be
done with the liquor business as the
Dow law should stand If 1t Is tested and
found TO be constitutional"
Senator Theodore II. Nleman: 81
imagine the Dow law will stand as II
Is"
Representative ByGe Wydman: "Tho
Dow law will be let severely alone. It
Is really re-enactment of the Scott law
In all essential features with the lien
clause left out, and, as nearly as possl-
BILE being license law without liCens-
ing In fact. do not believe In taking
into 1t any Sunday closing law or any
more local option features, though billa
Of that kind will certainly be sug-
gested.
Representative Oliver OutCalt did not
touch on the liquor question.
Hon. John EgEers: "The Dow law will
not be changed"
DR., j. F. Baily: II am informed Q
scheme is on foot to raise the Dow Law
tax to $500, $400 or $500 year. would
/ hn nof onnh n In
approve now Of the property holders re-
clause of the law, but think 1t better
not to interfere with 1t at all, rs we
might make 1t worse"
Col. Bob Harlan: "The Dow law will
not be tampered with"
Senator Kritchner: "The Dow law
will stand"
Representative BrOckman: "The Leg
islature will not tamper with the liquor
question much this winter" said Rep
resentatiVe BrOckmsn. "a few cranks
from the rural districts will submit
some measures, which will not be heard
Of again, concerning local option, Sun
day closing and high taxes, feel conf
dent that no change Of the kind will be
made. If there Is any change at all, the
Oosl option clause should be expunged
from the law"
Representative Fred Bader: II will
object to any mOnkeying with the Dow
law, aud do not think 1t will be chang
| ed at all"
Now, in all candor, l ask whether In
view of such facts we have q particle of
hope that any of the above
features will be incorporated into
the Dow law. l have already signed
| petition for the proposed changes and
would again If required, but have no
kind of hope that the petitions will be
| regarded.
We should not deceive ourselves on
this question. Hoping for a thing and
voting for 1t are two quite different
questions. What the people want is re-
lief from the liquor traffic, ana no way
appears to be open but to attack said
traffic at the ballot box.
Please publish this In your columns
designed as the "Voice of the People,"
and give us your candid view Of the
situation and Oblige yours truly,
JOHN DANNER.
Nonton Nov 90 1903