Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-03
How the People Stand on Local option
20 lie E1iifnr nf The DispGkch j.

writing on this subject from a point so
distant it will be found in the wide cir
culation Of the Dispatch and its conse-
quent influence on public opinion.
In the account given by your reporter
in the issue of the 2lst Of how the
businessmen of Richmond stand on this
question there is a great deal that needs
explanation. lie says that many bust
ntss.men were found opposed to license,
who were yet too timid or modest to
"speak out in meetin'," while a long
column OF names opposed to this law
speak out boldly. Your evident fair
ness in this discussion fOrbids the sup
position that there was any intention Of
giving a deceptive complexion to this
report, and yet there is no doubt of its
being used to prove that vast majority
Of the businessmen are opposed to the
law. Would it not be fair showing
TO tell us at least how many there were
who refused to be put in the paper? A
thousand modest men will make less
noise and attract less public attention
than dozen Of demonstratiye ones. 1t
is hoped, therefore, that the public will
consider this in forming their judgment.
have been both astonished and
amused by the arguments used by the
opponents of this law. Three points
are conspicuous First, prohibition
doesn't prohibit. Well, if that be the
case, what have the liquor-men to fear?
They get by this law, according to their
own argument, just what they want.
One writer, signing himself xxx, in
the paper Of 25th brings strong array
of figures from the internal-revenue re-
ports to prove that prOhibitory laws
have increased the sales in the States
of Maine, Kansas, and others, and
asserts that the sales are openly made.
If this be true, then the best possible
thing for the business would be pro-
hibitory law; and can't see see why
the dealers fight against it. There
is, however, one little thing that i'm
presses some Of our simple people very
strongly: The cutlery of the dealers
that the very agitation of the question
and the prospect of the adoption Of the
law have stopped nearly all sales, and
are running their business. What does
this nean if prohibition doesn't pro-
hibit?
Another strange thing is that the
dealers are pleading for high license as
the best means of curtailing and con-
trolling this business, and yet they de-
clare that any interference with it will
injure the business of the country. Do
they wish to injure business? No;
they oppose local option on the ground
that it will ipjure business, aud favor
high license, which they say will more
eflectually curtail the business. Mill
tary men say that it is extremely
hazardous to change front in the face of
an enemy and on the eve of battle.
But this organized army Of liquor
dealers have been brought into such
desperate straits that they are forever
changing front-now opposing local
option on the ground that it will not
prohibit, and then on the ground that
it will prohibit so eilectually as to ruin
trade; and again favoring high license
as the best means Of doing what they
are fighting to the bitter end against
having done.
They make the point, 1t will ruin
business. What business? If they
mean the liquor business, the very pur-
pose of the law is to destroy that. But
what other business will it injure
Will the saving of fifteen millions OF
dollars now wasted in drinking, which
contributes nothing to the support OF
life, and turning that into the channels
Of other business injure the business
thus increased? Will the saving of an
equal amount in the time now with.
drawn from the productive labor Of the
country injure business? The answer
is very obvious.
But this Liquor Dealers Protective
Association has suddenly become very
pious and very patriotic. 1t was never
known heretofore that as class they
even aspired to any preeminent regard
for the sacredness OF the Sabbath or fol
the welfare Of the State. There ha'
been a latent suspicion in the minds Of
some Of us simple people that they
were generally willing to make theil
profits on Sunday and week days, ever
at The expense of the peace aud pros
perity of the community. But nov
by some means they come forward a.
the champions of Sunday laws, an
with an excess Of patriotic zeal propos'
TO pay their taxes in money instead o
coupons. The records show that a ma
iority of the cases Of payments in cou
pons bas been heretofore from thes
men. What does this sudden CONVEX
sion mean. 1t brings to mind the oil
doggerel-
When the devil was sick,
The devil q monk would be,
But when the devil got well.
The devil a monk was he.
1t is good omen fer local option tia
the opponents are put to such strait
to support their cause, and we hay
only TO beware of The gifts offered
peryeit judgment. d. c. |.
LEXINGTON, March 9th.