The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-11-19
Experiences and Observations at
the Polls.

Rising Sun on Nov. 2nd, 1886, from early
morning until they closed.
The all absorbing question Of the day
was the great moral issue of 'Llcense" or
"No License" to be decided by the ballot &.
We confess it was with feelings alte nat
irg between usemept and disgust that
we noted the devices and argume nts used
by voters in order to make il appear that
they were fully qualified to deal with such
an important issue, when discharging the
privilege accorded them under a Republi-
can form of government, that of suffrage.
The voter ''against license" seerued to
possess an abiding faith in the manliness of
his convictions and was outspoken as to his
position, fearing no mans criticism.
The voter who touched not" the subject
seemed to exhibit evidence of having failed
himself when his conscience dictated. He
seemed disconsolate and certainly some
what ashamed when he remembered, HE
who is not for us-is against us''
The voters "For License belonged to
one of two classes. First-The class that
J were honestly in favor of the traffic and de-
sired license. He seemed to be consistent
and honest in his work and was to he re-
spected for his honesty. Second-The
class that claimed to be temperance men
without consistency or Justification. He
seemed to be mad and looked as if he would
commence kicking himself before he saw
the light of another sun.
But to the tert. On approaching the diff
ferent voters during the day the following
were only few of the incidents that were
experienced by those who were active in the
cause of Prohibition.
Mr.. A. was as good a temperanc man
as anybody but he could not support the
prohibtory law because it was too ST. ingent
and could not be enforced.
Ar. 3. was as good a temperance man as
anybody, bnt he could not support the law
because it was not stringent enough and
could not be enforced.
Mr.. G. was as good temperance man &c.
but he could not support the law because it
would be the direct cause of defeating the
Republican President in 1888.
Nr. d. was as good temperance man &c.
but he could not support the law because it
was dodge to get the Republican party
into power.
Mr. e. was as good temperance man
&c. (of course) but he could not support the
law because a man could not sell his cider
and his apples must rot
Mr.. +. was as good &c. (of course) but
he could not support the law because it per
mitted the sale of cider and it would be
drank as much as ever.
Nh. G. was as good &C., (of course) but
he could not support the law because the
doctors would give prescriptions promis-
cuously PAIN, or no pain and as much rum
be drank as ever, and the doctors get rich
M. III. was as good &C., (of course) but
he could not support the law because he OBJ
jected to putting guardian over himself.
For on one occasion he was sick and his
ply sician would not prescribe whiskey aud
he had to send to Baltimore for it. Hence
he wanted it SO he could get it when sick.
Mr.. /. was as good &C.. (of course) but he
could not support the law because he pre-
ferred ium should he sold in bar-rooms
rather than convert drug-.tores into saloons
because they all sold it and would sell it
and doctors woud prescribe it without re-
gard to principle or propriety, as they
were now doing and would continue.
Mr.. j. was as good &c., (of course) but
he could not support the law because he
wanted to go TO drug store and get his
medicine, let it be Schnapps, Rum, Brandy
or what, when he felt he needed it.
Mr.. K. was as good &C., (of conrse) but
he could not support the law because he lik
ed little whiskey and he proposed to
have it handy.
Mr.. L. was as good &c, (of course) bat he
could not support the law because he knew
if you took whiskey out of the county it
would only make men try the harder to
get 1t. While if they knew it could be
had they would drink less Of it. Like the
Irishman that did not want his deposit in