The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-23
THE QUESTION OF LOCAL OPTION.
Hon. E.. b. Reynolds Explains the Position OF
the Temperance People as to Liquidation.
Interview In Liberty lind. > Herald.

non. lie d. hcynOi0s Explains the FoettOn OF
the Temperance People as to Liquidation.
Interview In Liberty lind Herald.
Reporter-How about local option7
Mr.. Reynolds-I am heartily in favor of local
option as a means to an end. / believe it by far
the best and most practical method o. dealing
with the drink traffic that Ia now applicable in
the immediate future. l believe that while We
are forging our way up to ultimate constitution
al prohibition, and pending action thereon, local
option Is the very best possible agent for the
development of public sentiment in behalf of
temperance reform and will result In closing
more saloons and Kidding more territory in In6i-
ana from the drink curse than all other agents
this side of absolute prohibition. / reach this
conclusion from the splendid results that have
attended it in other States. Under
years in Georgia over one hundred
counties have voted against the sale Of iutoxi-
cants, thirty counties In Mississippi, eleven in
Florida, thirty-four in Missouri, several hundred
townships and Q number OF municipalities in
Ohio. and a large number in Arkansas. Not
only have the saloons been voted out, but .
vastly-improved temperance sentiment has been
obtained. and in some Of these States, notably
in Georgia. they are now arranging for constitu-
tional prohibition, q movement simply impossi-
BILE q few years ago. Local option has been Q
schoolmaster, educating the people to o better
sentiment, and putting them in such . frame Of
mind as to make more aggressive measures pos
sible. Now. 1 believe that If the next General
Assembly should enact . general l~ocal-option
law, that in two years after the going into
effect thereof, fifty counties in the State
would have ended the drink traf-
&c by their votes, and the traffic in
the counties that had gone "wet5 would have
passed under stringent regulations; for, young
man. local option does not mean free whisky. in
counties that vote for the continuance Of the
traffic. We're You aware that there never had
been any sentiment in favor of free whisky in
Indiana. except among q certain class Of sellers
and drinkers. and now, unfortunately, aug
mentsd by a class OF honest, and yet extreme
men, who declare that If we cannot have prohi.
bition at one bound, then give rs free whiskya
As between license and unlimited SAFE / Am for
license; for this means certain degrees Of protec-
ton and restraint. while the other means TO lift
up the food gates and let the dark, turbld
stream Of the drink roll on unrestrained and I'M
checked. think We want to be eone with this
free whisky nonsense.
Rep.-How 10 this legislation to Do sscured7
Mr.. is no difficulty In answering
that question. 1t must come through the Leg
~islature. No other Departments OF the State
government has anything to do with is, and
what absolute folly and waste OF energy 10 max
ing an issue on . State or county officer, when
they have no more to do with 1t than any other
citizen of the common wealth. And this legisla-
ton must come through the parties that con-
troll. aud these are the Democratic and Repub-
lican parties. IL must be apparent to the mind
OF every careful observer Of the present temper
of public sentiment that there will not be . DEL
ck6tC VI u tlG ROliOtCoi GILL III ~ o0AS
Legislature. and. I think, for years to
come. Now. this being true, it 10 the
duty Of every friend Of temperance and who de-
sire to see some advance beyond the present
system, to unite their influences in their re-
spective party organizations In sucn q. manner
as will secure the promotion and election of per-
sons to the Legislature who will favor the
policy OF submission and local option II this
combination cannot be made here, then most
certainly it cannot be done anywhere else. and
our fight IL hopeless. so IA: as anything Ia the
near future Is concerned.
Rep.-Seeing that you are such IN uncom-
promising friend to prohibition, how Is 1t that
You do not align yourself with the third partyi
Mr. R-Simply because l believe that the
best possibilities for temperance reform lie in
the success Of the Republican party, and espe-
cislly in its legislative ticket / have not one
particle Of doubt that If the Republican party
Is successful this fall in carrying the State, ss-
pecially the General Assembly. long before
the Same shall adjourn q local option law will be
enacted, and temperance reform will enter upon
a career of success such as IL has not known for
thirty-ive years. This being true. l am im-
pressed that every voter who desires some ad-
vance in the immediate future on this question
as to leeislation-every lover of homo and the
peace OF society. and every opponent OF the sa-
loon who desires to be consistent and cast his
political influence where it will do the most good
should vote for. at least, the legislative ticket
Of the Republican party.
Rep How about the charge mpds by the
third party that it was q plan well understood
by the leaders Of the party that the local-option
bill which you introduced IN the last Legislature
should pass the House. but that IL should be de-
| featsd In the Ssuate7
Mt. R-Tha 10 simply nonsense. and arises
out OF pure imagination and q desire ON the
part Of some that it might be 90. From the
very beginning to the close there Was but one
sentiment among the leaders of the Republican
party and the great majority Of the Republican
members and that was that . ioeal-opfion Law
must h. naascd 10 n~aa3htA Than ~awa eouoo
differences Of views a. 70 what form the lAu
should assume, but not - to its subsistence. II
J was votsd Tor b evssy Republican IN The House