The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-17
TEMPERANCE IN OHIO.
The Dow Law Pro and Con History
of Legislation in the State - Ar =
ticles by DR.. Beane, and Rev. DR..
Richie.
THE DOW LAW.


The UNIvERsALIsT, of June 5, and
again Of June 10, respecting the re-
Gently enacted s'Dow Law" of this
State (Ohio), which needs correcting,
as they are likely to be misleading to
those unacquainted with the law.
The very title of the law is misno-
mer. 1t is entitled, 'An act providing
against the evils resulting from the sale
of Intoxicating liquors." This law pro-
vides in no way against such evils,
except in section ii, of the act, known
as the local option clause, and referred
to in THE UNIvERsALIsT of June 5, as
the McConnellsville ordinance. Let us
examine this feature of the law. 1t
takes from the people directly all voice
in the matter whatever, and puts it into
the hands of the councils of municipal
corporations. The rural districts have
no protection whatever. The people
cannot by vote prohibit the business
anywhere. Town and city councils
may prohibit within their jurisdiction,
but no further. Thus the law furnishes
an incentive to the liquor element to
control by whatever means they can the
elections for councilmen. This serves
as an occasion for the corrupting of the
ballot, and morals of the people, instead
Of striving for the elevation of the
morals and purity of the franchise.
But should village be fortunate
enough in having council that cannot
be controlled by this element, and it
should prohibit the saloon within it's
jurisdiction, they may move just over
the corporation line and continue with
out let or hindrance. Thus every town
so doing may be surrounded by cor
don of drunk factories and hell holes
of vice and crime, without any recourse
whatever.
And further, this "local option" feat
ure puts it into the hands of the coun-
Gil to allow on Sunday the selling of
malt and vinous liquors, thus doing
away with all Sunday closing laws.
This furnishes another incentive to the
liquor business to control the election
of councils. We have ''local option"
Sunday according to the provisions of
this act
Further than in this section of the
law there is no provision against the
evils of the liquor traffic. 1t makes no
further attempt in this direction. Who
ever is able to pay the one or two hun
dred, as the case may be, may open
saloon and corrupt the morals Of the
community, educate criminals for our
courts to punish, ruin our boys and
girls, and spread want, ruin and woe
to his hearts content. And for what ?
For money. Money for what Topay
the taxes. Yes, to pay the taxes, three
fourths Of which would not be incur
red, were it not for this accursed traf-
fc. And whose taxes? Yours and
mine, my Christian brother. Taking
the bread from the children's mouths,
the clothes from their backs, the shoes
from their feet, and above all, their
morals and virtue, their manhood and
WON anhood.
Is not this too big price Can any
price paid to the State by these sinks
of iniquity, repay you for the loss of
reputation and character of your sons ?
What price will satisfy you to bring
your daughter to want, privation and
abuse, and perhaps the loss of chastity
through a drunken husband ? Make
this a personal matter, brethren. Take
it home to yourselves.
1t takes boys to run a saloon as much
as it takes boys to run a saw-mill, and
why not your boys, or mine, as well as
anybody else's? Somebody's SONS and
daughters must be the victims of this
gigantic curse. This curse exists in
our land by our permission, brethren,
and we are responsible for the results.
The prophet is saying to us as did Ma
than of old to David, "Thou art the
man." Christ said Z: EVEN as We have
done it unto one of the least of these
my brethren, We have done it unto me-"
In the issue Of June 10, THE UNI
vERsALIsT says it was mistaken in
supposing the liquor dealers of Ohio
would abide by the law, and that an
association has been formed to oppose
legislation and fight this law in the
courts. 1t is added: "The question
now is, Will the people of Ohio be
found fighting on the side of the rum
sellers? If the result should so prove
it will be an unfortunate condition of
affairs"
This statement will bear examina-
ton. Let as see how unfortunate it
will be. The law makes no effort to
curtail the liquor business. 1t is only
a scheme to obtain revenue, and OBJ.
tains this revenue from the vices of
the people; method which is, to say
the least, reprehensible. Proper meth
DDS of getting revenue for government
expenses should be encouraged. To en-
courage this method is to encourage
that which, above all others, tends to
degrade the citizen and to demoralize