The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-02-23

OmAhA, 4NEbsy - 1000 J
GENTLEMEN-You letter of the 31st
ult., in regard to prohibition, is at hand,
and carefully noted. I would answer
your questions as you put them, as fol-
lows:
1. High license has not hurt our busi-
ness, but, on the contrary, has been a
great benefit to it, as well as to the people
generally.
2 believe somewhat, as you say the
Cincinnati Volksblatt says, that high Ii
cense acts as bar against prohibition. 1t
is especially so in this State, as the tax
from the license goes towards supporting
the schools, thereby relieving the citizens
and farmers of just so much tax as they
would otherwise have to pay, and is
therefore especially beneficial to the poor
and laboring classes. 1t also gives the
| business more of tone and legal stand
| ing, and places it in hands of a better
class of people.
8. do not think that high license les
sens the quantity of liquor used, but
places it in fewer and better hands, with
| better regularity.
| 4. As to the trade repeating the high
license law, if the question was left to it,
| do not think, so far as my acquaintance
is concerned, that it would do so. I have
an extensive acquaintance through this
State, and I believe if it were put to a
vote of the liquor dealers and saloon men
whether it should be high license, no IL
cense, or low license, that they would al
most unanimously be for high license.
Those objecting would be class without
responsibility or character, who never pay
for anything if they can help it, and sim
ply start in business for a few months
with the view of beating every one they
can, and, of course, naturally such class
would not want this law. I cannot see
how any one who has anything at stake
can help but favor high license and en-
forcing the law strictly.
5. would be in favor of high license
rather than trust to the non-enforcement
of the law under prohibition. If you un-
dertake to do your business without pro-
lection yon are blackmailed by one-horse
attorneys, which in the end amounts to
many times the cost of license every
year, even if the license be very high.
We have had great deal of business in
the State of Iowa, both before it was pro-
hibition and since, and we can say posi-
lively that there is very little satisfaction
in doing business in that State now. Ever
SO often the goods are seized, and it caus-
es a great deal of delay and trouble to get
them released; and then there is a fear OF
not getting money for the goods, and all
the forms we have to go through make il
very annoying business. 1t is like run
ming a railroad under ground. You don't
know where you are going OF what is
ahead. In all my experience of ten years
in Ohio before the temperance movement
and twenty years experience here pre-
vious to high license and since. I believe
that high license is one of the grandest
laws for the liquor traffic, and for men in
terested as well as people at large, there
is. The only objection we have here is
that the regulations are not more strictly
enforced than they are. do not believe
we would have any prohibition people il
our State if our high license law was
more rigidly enforced.
inclose you herewith a copy of oul
State law regulating the liquor business
which will give you an idea of the kint
of law we have. Anything I can do fol
you at any time, please command me.
Yours truly,
PETER E. ILER, President