Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-04-13
Citizens of Annapolis.
FELLOW CITIZENS /:

relentleseneEe OF the Liquor 1nIeTess
we make no apology for addressing
you. We ask but patient hearing
of our case. We have faith that such
hearing will lead you to prompt ac-
ton for the public good and safety.
In 1882, after immemorial years OF
suffering from the License Sale OF In
toxicatiog Liquors, the Legislation &C.
corded to our county to determine
at the Ballot Box whether such
sale should be continued. BY about
$50 majority in this city, you declared
against this traffic. For many months
the Law worked we'll. In city and
county, saloons were closed. Gro
cerymen closed out their stocks. In
stantly, drunkenness abated, crime tell
of. Street brawls and other mioor
disorders, always and everywhere
flowing from the open Bar Room,
became rare. The poorer classes
who had suffered much because OF
the waste of their earnings, were en-
abled to pull through periods pecu-
liarly trying to item, with compare
tive comfort. The unfortunate suffers
from depraved appetite began to rally.
The open temptation removed, it vas
easier to stand Parents who bad
trembled for their sons and wives
whose lives were those of misery, took
courage.
There is clear and general testlmo-
ny on the part OF all classes except
those in the liquor interest, as to the
happy results Of the Law while car.
ried out. The verdict as to the
same, throughout the rural districts,
is almost universl.
About year and half ago the
club evasion" began, the general In
corporation Act being used for the
purpose. For small fee, any five citi-
zens could obtain q charter tor Must
cal and Literary and Social purposes. /"
and then, introducing iutoxicants
through caterer and extending their
membership, the law prohibiting the
sale OF intoxicatants might be evaded
Efforts were vainly made through
the courts TO correct this-but till the
present success has not been achiev-
ed. During the past fall aud winter
and especially since the great influx
of strangers brought here by the Leg
islature, this evasion has been extern
sivs. With their departure it has al
ready largely, at this writing, abated.
We wish you to note at this point two
things, viz:
|. That this great evasion and vic.
lation of the law was planned and
has been carried on. by the men chief
" who kept the old saloons. The
club bar-ro0ms have been run by
these men. Deliberately and persis-
lently have they tried to nullify and
degrade the Local Option Law.
2 That since their partial success
they have been loud in crying out
against the Local Option Law, as the
cause Of innumerable debaucberies
and all manner of evil
You know better. We believe that
they cannot thus delude you You
know that the prohibitory law is good
The violators Of this good law are re-
sponsible for the evil.
And now, when the 0riginators
and promoters OF this great iniquily
have done this wicked thing they have
the hardihood to ask you to sustain
them ! They want you IN open day
to vote hack to them, notorious vic
lators Of law as they are. legal sane
ton for the vile business, which
thrives only IS the woes of the COM
mnnity increase. We belieye the
good people of Annapolis, irrespec-
tive of party, will spurn their demand
Representing those who honor law,
We ask you to rise in your might and
by your votes, as law abiding free-
men, rebuke this law-bFeaking spirit.
SAY to them, this great evil. the
liquor traffic, the source of 30 vast
poverty and death shall have no sanc-
ton OF law, with our consent /" Drive
it from your midst Then join heart
and hand to sustain the law and PIT
down the evasion. The means to do
this are in no sense exhausted, a
solid public sentiment viii rapidly eff
feet this.
We earnestly ask you 10 remember
also, IS to this matter, that it would
be > great injustice to the rest Of The
county where the prohibilofy Law
now Is . success and TO which it brings
great blessing, to make our beautiful
city, with the sanction Of law, the
great drinking shop Of the county
We would thus, while blighting our
own henrthstonee, cause the blight