Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-03-30
TIE Local OPTION Law.
Views 81 Justice /"

Views 81 Justice.
Ma. EDITOR Some days since
you published 10 your paper . COM
munication from States Attorney
Munroe. which be heads. sWho is
Responsible for the Clubsl"
States Attorney Munroe then pro-
ceeds at considerable length to show
that this responsibility does not rest
on him and while be does not say it 10
SO many words. the only rational In
ference to be drawn from bis article
IL that the responsibility lies at the
door of Governor Henry Lloyd
am sure that all who know Governor
Lloyd viii agree with me when say
that be is a man who can be relied
upon to do his duty, and to do it con-
scientiously and fearlessly, and that
be is incapable of Sinking any re-
sponsibility which du:y may impose
upon him l can scarcely believe
that States Attorney Munroe meant
to attack Governor Lloyd. / would
rather believe that his intention and
purpose was 10 show to the temper
ance people that be had neglected no
means at bis disposal to render effec-
tive our Local Option Law. We are,
therefore, to presume that Governor
Lloyd naturely considered States
Attorney Munroe's petition. and after
such mature consideration decided that
the petition did not present proper
case for his interference, aud so de-
cliDed to authorize the proceedings
asked for by States Attorney Nun
roe. States Attorney Munroe seems
to think that if the Governor should
authorize him to institute proceed
iRgs TO vacate the charters of the So
cial Clubs on the ground OF non user,
there would be no difficulty in setting
aside the charters, and further no diff
Guilty in enforcing the Local Option
Law. / differ with him In both con-
illusions. First, | think be would
End it about as difficult To vacate the
charter of one Of these clubs as he
now finds it to convict one of them
Secondly, If be should succeed in set
ting aside the charters of everyone
of the clubs, be would be no nearer
the solution of the Local Option
question than now. Whyg Because
the very next day a'ter charter is
vacated, FIVE other persons, il not iu-
deed the same tide, can secure anoth-
er incorporation for social purposes
simply and then how is their charter
to be vacated? Again, / hold that
there is no necessity for charter or
incorporation of any kind Any
number of men can form themselves
into an association, social or other
wise, and | cannot conceive how our
Local Option Law can prevent them
from keeping intoxicating liquors in
common and using such liquors
among themselves under such regu-
lations as they may prescribe. The
only object 10 Incorporating these
Social Clubs is to give them az Off
cial and responsible organization and
thus facilitate their dealings with 9th.
ers. | have just endeavored to show
that the responsibility for the failure
of our Local Option Law cannot be
justly laid upon any mans shoulders.
The failure of the law to accomplish
any good purpose in our city, is to be
found in the law itself All prohibit
tory and sumptuary laws Of this class
will be more or less evaded every
where. 1t is the merest folly to enact
and undertake to enforce them, except
in communities where there is an al
most unanimous public sentiment in.
favor of them. Where the public SEN
timent is anything like evenly divid-
ed, such law must always be pracli-
caIly dead letter. 1t is very evil
delt this this is the situation in our
community today, and good policy
and sound morals alike demand re-
peal of the law. JUSTICE