The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-07-02
Friday. July z. 1856.
The Local Option Law.


Last week we published the Prohi-
bition end of the Local Option Law
which is to be passed upon at our next
election: and this week we publish the
License end of the bill. The people are
to express their choice in November.
A cal eful perusal of that part of the
law proposing to grant license to sell
intoxicating drinks in this county,
which will be found in the present is
sue of the MIDLAND JOURNAL, ought
to cause every person to ause and ask
what is meant by all these restrictions
and safe guards? What manner of bus
mess is this which our county is pro-
posing to set up partnership in? And
what is the object in requiring ten
bondsmen who own property assessed
at $1,000 or more each? Their only
business appears to assure the Clerk
and public that their man who wishes
to engage in grog selling, in their opin-
ion twill keep an orderly house and
duly preserve the provisions of this
act" They are not made liable for
damages on sccount of their principals
acts.
The two bondsmen hereinafter men,
toned are made answerable for that
The only apparent reason is to make
it as difficult as possible for persons
ox,L;+;o,c to wand ;nfov;o,f;oc. Ir;p yc
to procure hackers. The truth is, that
this license Bill endeavors to make it
next to impossible for any person to
take out a license, and thus effect a
prohibition law while pretending to-
enact generous license law. AS fur
ther evidence of this fact these ten
bondsmen are denied the privilege of
vouching for any other would be grog
seller. And why require the ten to
own at least SO, 900 worth of property?
They are not made liable for damage if
their principal Injuries the community,
or sells liquor to certain persons which
the law forbids him selling to, or SELL
ing on certain days or hours in the
day. Among the persons to whom it
shall be unlawful to sell is a young
man net q years of age, and man who
is drunk. Every person entering into
the business of liquor selling shall pro-
cure two securities to go on his bond
lin addition to the ten for egoing) who
shall become liable for costs and DANA.
ges which the said liquor dealer NAV
incur from injuries to any person or
property caused by drunk persons who
have obtained the liquor which intox-
icated them, from his bar or place Of
business.
The proposed safe guard license law,
forbids minors even putting foot into
a saloon or bar room so dangerous is
the presence ofalcoholic liquor to youth.
And fearing this should not prove suf-
ficient safe guard to young men, this
would be license law further prescribes
and declares that no person or servant
connected with the licensed establish
ment shall sell. indirectly or directly,
or give away to such minor, any spirit
uous or malt liquor, etc. There are
numberless other restrictions replete
with heavy penalties, proposed to be
set up as safe guards from the danger
liable to result from this infamous law
which it is proposed to bring back
from the buried past, and reestablish
again amongst US. The frightful pen
alties laid down in this license bill are
sufficient to condemn it to the mind Of
any order loving, moral citizen of the
community. The law that would sane
ton this trade describes it as bristling
with dangers as hedge hog. We ap-
peal to the commonsense and common
honesty of every decent citizen of the
community, why vote for law which
describes the object of its being as so
infamous and dangerous2 Why not
say in the most decided manner, If this
business is such constant peril that o