Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-03-24
LOCAL OPTION.
Mr.. oansrs Views on the Question.

MR. EDIT0R:-ln an address 20 the
Legislature, published in your paper,
asking the resubmission of the Local
Option Law to vote of the people,
signed by certain gentlemen profess
ing 10 represent fve-sixths ofthe bus
mess men OF this City, challenge is
offered for disproval Of what is there
10 alleged. This ought to eniitle the
friends OF the Law to a hearing
through the same medium of the
press.
Without recapitulatiDg the evils
claimed to exist, as set forth in the
address, we deny that the Local
Option Law" opens the door to them.
The non enforcement Of the Local
Option Law is the reason why the
sources of these evils are not sup
pressed. This is the true way OF
stating it, for no intelligent business
man OF the city will deny that if the
Local Option Law was enforced In
It's spirit and interest. the evils COM
planned of would not exist.
Most certainly every one Of the bus
mess men who endorse the orb para
graph of the address as approving
'all wise laws 10 restrain drunkenness
and all laws 10 the interests Of
virtue, morality aud the protecti. Of
our YOUTH" are in favor of a law that
prohibits traffic which makes drunk,
aud has never been claimed by its
advocates, to advance the interests of
virtue or morality or tend particular.
~ to the protection of our youth
Those of the Business Men who so
express themselves In the 9th para
graph are certainly committed to the
true spirit and object of Local Option
Aud we have no doubt whatever that
they express the sentiments of the
major part Of the business men of our
city. Some OF you are the men who
petitioncd the Legislature for high
license as an alternative preferable to
free rum. You have allowed your
selve to be hoodwinked by those of
the Ave SIXTH who express them
selves and give . key TO their true
sentiments ia the 7th paragraph of
the Address, who charge and insist
that the Legislature cannot amend
this law without our consent The
Legislature did not make it because
they renamed the matter to the pee
pie. aud it was the people who made
it and it is only the people who can
undo or modify it." Now this para
graph we propose to examine and see
IL herein doth not lie "the SNAKE"
As . proposition of law it is not cor-
rect, and no lawyer OF either House
will hold it il. The Legislature could
have passed the law without submit
ting 1t to vote of the people. Or
had the people voted at the election
''For License" instead OF Against
License, . the Legislature at It's next
session could have passed the law
prohibiting the traffic despite the ex-
pressed wish Of the people. The i'm
preston sought to be made By this
paragraph, that the submission of a
law to . vote Of the people is In the
nature OF an amendment to the organ
ic Law, is utterly false. And If it was
true, The gentlemen Of the 5th para
graph must know that an organic
law made by the people OF q county,
for county, could not be repealed
or amended BY part Of county,
for such part Of . county, any more
than the Constitution of the State
could be amended for one county, By
q vote Of that county.
II II not true that the people made
The law.
The Legislature, the only power
that could, enacted the Law forbidding
The sale OF Intoxicating liQuora' &c,
and 'made It's operation depend upon
the contingency Of . popular vote
rFell's appeal. e Nd, FL The de-
cision By the popular vote vas made
b. ; larger majorits than has ever
been given in our county since. And
The Inv became operative.
Bat let as read this paragraph as
meaning that. IS matter Of right and
iaif dealing. the Legislature ought
not 60 amend this law without sub
hitting such amendment to : popn-
sae vol6. BY givitg thought % ebe
true status Of the Local Option Law
il connection with other laws % the
status books. we win hnd 10 diff
cult in aScertainiug what are the
nimNAn rights of the people and Main