The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-03-20
STATE POLITICs.


18th, discusses the political outlook as
follows;
There are indications Of an unusual
complication III the policies of this
State at the coming of general election.
The general license law of the State is
an anombTy, aud no two Judges put the
same Interpretation on 1t. All admit
= that Il gives large gerliscretionary power
o. toithe courts. Applicants for licenses to
keep hotels or sell liquor are required TO
presenta petition signed by twelve re-
putable citizens. The petitions must
=, set forth that the applicant is man of
good moral character and temperate
= habits, and that the hotel. saloon, or
liquor store is needed for the convent
ence of the public. After the license is
granted bond is required to be given,
signed by two persons, qualifying in the
amount of $4,000 each, for the faithful
ttlillment Of rather ambiguous stat.
ute.
For some years past the Judges have
; been becoming more rigid In using their
discretionary power against liquor men.
Each year fewer licenses have been
granted. The change has been uniform
over the State. This year Judge White
OF Indiana county, led off in the direc-
tion Of what the prohibitionists call
temperance reform" by refusing to
grant licenses al all. Other Judges.
though not making so sweeping a
change, have held that fewer licenses
should be issued and most rigid ad-
herence to the prescribed regulations in
the matter of moral character enforced.
The result has been curtailment of the
number OF licenses issued. so uniformly
distributed over the State that the liquor
men have come to think that is the re
suit OF a secret understanding between
the Ju ges or else the fruit of general
. and well-dlrected temperance move.
ment,
To meet this new element Of opposi-
tiou to their business the liquor men
have determined to form an association
of men engaged in the liquor traffic.
The first step in this movement was
taken in Harrisburg on Friday night
last. A secret meeting of liquor dealers
was held, at which seventy-fve men
were In attendance, including the lead
ing hotel proprietors, the saloon keep
ers, and the wholesale dealers. After
organizing permanently they determined
to rent building and hold regular
meetings, the quarters to be used as
sort OF club house. During the next
session of the Legislature an effort will
be made to change the law, so as to
transfer the power Of granting licenses
from the court to the Commissioners,
and dispense with the discretionary fea-
lures of the act now in force A strong
lobby will be maintained during the
session, the headquarters of which will
s. f. be at the club house of the association.
The plan contemplatos an extension of
the organization 10 all the counties in
the State. That Harrisburg will be the
central organization, and collateral
branch will be formed in every county
and located at the county seat. The
membership will embrace men of all
political faiths, except the Prohibition
its. They will assert themselves in,tbe
nominating conventions of both parties
as far as the selection of candidates for
Senators and members of the Assembly
are concerned. After the nominations
are made the candidates who promise
to 90 their best to subscrve the interests
of the liquor traffic will be supported bv
the members of the organization re-
gardless of political considerations. The
organization will also take hand in
the Gubernatorial contest.
The conviction has become Widespread
that Gen. James A. Beaver will be the
Republican nominee for Governor. The
liquor men are opposed to his election.
and will make a vigorous effort to defeat
him. If they develop half the strength
that the most intelligent of them claim,
there Is no doubt that they will be able
to accomplish that purpose. OF course,
this movement will result in counter
effort on the part of the Prohibitionists,
and 1t may be that the coming political
battle will be fought on lines drawn for
and against the sale of liquor.