Morris tribune., 1888-02-15

ult., in regarnd to Prohibition, is at
hand and carefully noted. I would
answer your questions as you put
them as follows:
/. High License has not hurt our
business, but, OH the contrary, has
been a great benefit to it as we'll as
the people generally.
2. I believe somewhat, as you say
the Cincinnati Volksblatt says, that
High License acts as bar against
Prohibition. It is especially so in this
State, as the tax from the license goes
toward supporting the schools, there
by relieving the citizens and farmers
of Just so much tax that they would
otherwise have to pay, and is there
fore especially beneficial to the poor
and laboring classes. 1t also gives
the business more of a tone and legal
standing, and it places it in hands of
better class of people.
8. I do not think that High License
lessons the quantity of liquor used,
but places 1t in fewer and better
hands with better regularity.
A. AS to the trade repeating the
High License law, if the question was
left to it, I do not think, 80 far "a my
acquaintance is concerned, that it
would do 30. I have an extensive ac-
quaintence through this state, and 1
believe if it were put to vote of the
liquor dealers and saloon ne II
whether it should be High License, no
license, or low license, that they
would almost unanimously be for
High License. Those objecting would
be class without responsibility or
character, who never pay for any
hing if they can help it, and simply
start i'm business for a few months
with the view of beating every one
hey can, and of course, naturally
such class would not want this law
Lcannot see how any one who has
at stake can help but favor
High License aud enforcing the law
strictly.
5 / would be III favor of High
License rather than trust to the non-
enforcement of the law under Prohi-
biti n. II you under take to do your
bu> ness without protection you are
blackmailed by one-horse attorneys,
which in the end amounts to many
times the cost of a license every year,
even If the license be very high. We
have had great deal of business in
the State of Iowa, both before 1t was
Prohibition and since, and we can
saw positively that there is very little
satisfaction in doing business in that
state now. Ever SO often the goods
are seized, and it causes q great deal
OF delay and trouble to get them re-
leased and then there is a fear of not
getting money for the goods, and all
the forms we have to- go through
make it very annoying business. 1t
Is like running railroad under
ground. You don't know where you
are going or what is ahead. In all
my experience, OF ten years in Ohio
before the temperance movement and
twenty years experience here previ-
GUS to High License and since | be-
lieve that High License is one of the
grandest laws for the liquor traffic,
aud for men interested as well as
people at large, there Is. The only
objection we have here is that the
regulations are not more strictly en-
forced than they are. | do not be-
lieve we would have any Prohibition
people in our State If our High
License law was more rigidly en-
forced.
Ienclose you herewith copy OF
our State law regulating The liquor.
business, which will give you an idea
of the kind Of law We have. Any.
thing can do for you at any lime,
please command me.
Yours truly,
PETER e. ILER, Prest.