The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-09-03
Friday. Sept. 3. 1856
The Local Option Amendment.

The only question of any political
significance FIR Cecil county in the
canvass this fall. is the question of
the amendment of our present defect
i've Local Optlon law, or properly
speaking, Prohibition law. against
the Writ ''high license" Bill The
little formaltv of the Democratic
politicians over the election of DIR.
Shaw or Talbot will not create a
ripple of excitement out side of the
ring of federal office holders. The
ring masters of the party will doubt
less, in order to hold their party in
tact to secure their personal ends,
in 1887, taking their Cue from the
Cecil Democrat, make every effort
to have the Writ license bill voted
by every member of their party. This
will or rather 1could secure the party
not only the solid liquor vote, but
the active efforts of the liquor men
in future canvasses; and it would
secure much more. 1t would insure
a liberal contribution in funds for
campaign work from the Liquor Deal
ers' Association. This talk we hear
about liquor men preferring the local
option law to license, is only a
weak invention of the enemy. The
leaders may put this argument into
the mouths ofthe more ignorant part
isans, but the intelligent. and wealthy
men of the liquor trade, wish their
business to be recognized by law,
respectable and legitimate as any 9th.
er traffic and manufacture, and prefer
any law to outlawery.
We do not for moment, doubt the
complete triumph at the polls of the
proposed amendment to the pres
emit prohibition law which will
make it effective; and under which
amendment numerous convictions
would be made, followed by punish
ment that could not be evaded as I'M
der the present law. Lying in Jail
would not pay fines, while their bust
ness was going on at home in as -four.
fishing manner as ever. Under the
amended law nothing short of hard
labor for months in the house of Cor
rection would take the place of Sc
we're money penalty. A few lessons
of that kind would be a terror to the
boastful defers of the present emas-,
culated law.
But for the sake of the argument,
let us suppose that the local option
amendment clause is defeated.
Would that stop the contest? Never.
IT would only intensity it. A full
prohibition ticket would be run in
1887. with county and state officers
and determined effort made to elect
it. The Republican party which has
been making unsuccessful efforts to
gain the ascendency for 20 years,
would see that there was no chance
for the election Gifts candidates and
the prohibition element of the Dem
ocratic party. who have no interest in
machine politics, and are Influenced
by their desire. wholly to promote the
public welfare, finding the liquor as
ISOLATION aiding the party leaders with
money as we'll as active work, would
vote the prohibition ticket by scores.
A defeat of the prohibition amend.
ment this fall by politician maneu-
vers would as surely as the sun rises
draw the lines in 1887 fairly between
prohibition and the liquor traffic, and
the people of Cecil have lost their
virtue, love of truth. morality and
clean men for office if they wouldn't
send delegation to the legislature
pledged to sustain and carry out the
wishes of the constituents behind
them, as well as fill every office in
the county with men of the same per-
suasion. We say to the ring pollti'
clans, attempt to defeat the prohibi'
tion amendment at your peril. Both
the parties are trying to honey fugle
the liquor interest and draw them in
their support. We would remind
Republicans that the liquor intere st