The Monitor., 1888-05-25
THE LOCAL OPTION LAW.


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The following, from the Elmer Times Of
May 18th, gives Mr.. Woolman's opinion
of the new Local Option law:
As did not circulate or sign a petition
asking for an election under the so-called
''High License" Local Option law, perhaps
much to the surprise of my friends,
would like a little space in the Times to
define my position and objections in regard
to the law. 1t is entitled can act to regu-
late the sale Of intoxicating and brewed
liquors" Being a Prohibitionist have no
sympathy with any regulation of the liquor
traffic-my object being to prohibit, ex-
terminate. To circulate or sign a petition
is virtually an endorsement of the law; this
| could not eonscientiously do because it
discriminates more in favor of the saloon
and against the temperance people than the
old law; neither could | represent to the
legal voters that an election carried under
the provisions of this law would stop the
sale of intoxicants, when do not believe
it will. 1t seems to me too much like
trifiing with temperance voters, for | do
not think the advantage gained will COM
pensate for the effort and expense required
to hold an election, although it prove sue
cessful. The act does not make it unlaw-
ful to sell to Minors thus conforming pre-
eisely to the old law Under the provis-
ions of the old law any citizen of the State
could prosecute any saloon or inn keeper
in any part of the State for violation of
the license laws, but under the Local OPP
ton law ''Three residents of the township
or municipality wherein such license is
used and exercised" are required to make
a complaint for violations of the law. thus
cutting off all who do not reside in the
township or municipality where the tavern
or saloon is located from making a com
plaint and as snch complaint must be
verified by the oath OF such cemplainants, .
it follows that all three OF the residents
must witness the violation of the law,
otherw Use they could not swear to it, so, in
order to detect these violations, the tem-
perance people will have to band them
selves together in threes and hang around
the saloons, for those who patronize such
places cannot be expected to make any
complaint. | must confess that I am un-
able to see why one sober, ordcr-loving
citizen is not the equal of one saloon keep
er, but IL seems that with those who
framed and passed this law, sobriety was
at discount. If an election is ordered,
section sixth of the law says the ballots
shall contain against the sale of intoxi-
eating liquors." This is deceptive, for
nine out of every ten who vote against
| the SALE will believe that if that prevails
the sale of intoxicants will be stopped in
the county, but this is not true, for the re-
suit OF the election is defined in section
seventh, which reads as follows:
"And be it enacted, That whenever, by
return of the election. it shall appear that
a majority of the votes cast in sach county
are against the sale of Intoxicating liquors,
no license shall thereafter be granted to
any person within the limits of such conn
| ty to keep tavern or saloon, or to sell spir-
ituous, vinous, malt or brewed liquors to
be drunk on or about the premises, provid-
ed that persons holding licenses issued
prior to such an election shall not be de-
prived thereof until the expiration of the
same.
Inserting in the new law. ''to he drunk
on or about the premises, makes it pro
hi5itory only in regard to drinking on the
premises where sold. There is nothing in
the law to prevent the granting of license
for the sale of such liquors, provided they
are not drunk on the premises Neither
does it interfere with saloons where beer
is sold in quantities ofa quart or more, pro-
vided it is not drunk ON or about the prem
ises, even grocery stores and drug stores
can sell on the same conditions without
being molested.
Most of the taverns in the comfy get
license at the May term of court good for
one year, unless revoked for cause, and no
license now in force will expire before the
18th of next January. Add to this the
possibility of the law being repealed by the
next Legislature, and the almost impossible
task to conv let for violations thereof, where
will be the advantage of holding an cleo
ton?
As to the High License features Of tie law
have only to say that consider it an un-
sound and ruinous policy in political econ
omy for the State to receive revenue from
the degradation of its own citizens. 1t is
offering premium on immortality, panper
ism and crime; and making those whom it
degrades, impoverishes and debauches pay
the premiums.
: High License can never mitigate drunk
enness or the evils arising FROM intemper-
ance. r. WooLMAN.
WHY CANNED MEATS POISON