Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-03-01
To Rescue LiGSor Tax Eyasionists.


WORDS or THE ONE WHO WROTE IT.
The ground gone over before by the
gentlemen. who are apparently aiding
the liquor dealers to beat the village out
of what lawfully belongs to il, is much of
it brought up again. no doubt for the
purpose of detrscting attention of the
people from the main question, viz:
"Why the officials have not collected
the $500 liquor tax this year same as
was done last year? and why is it that
all communications of President and
others are almost and l might say
wholly SILENT in answer thereto? Not
one word of excuse is offered by Village
officials about their neglect i'm not col
lecting liquor tax, unless the excuse
that DIR. Gowan brought the matter to
the attention of the people and for that
reason and his connection and position
on other public questions years ago,
now creates suspicion of improper
motives. Mems motives are easily
maligned by any one and it is one
of the subtilities of refined mean
ness that has ever been used to flank
thedanger of meeting the truth.
But the case under discussion does not
admit Of any method in this matter
but one. viz: face the open and demon
strated facts that there are number of
places in the Village in which whisky
has been sold during the present year
and that proprietors have not paid into
Village treasury the lawful tax-and
some no tax at all--and in doing so such
liquor dealers are Withholding from our
Village about $500, and that there is
law to compel its payment and that
village officials are required 10 enforce
the law. Officials enforce the law, col
lect the tax as you are required by your
official oath and duty bound to do and
the main question will vanish, but not
before.
The writer can respect the truth and
feel its force, no matter from whence it
comes, and all the difference between
DR.. Gowan and the majority of the resi-
dents Of village mot connected with viii
lage ring) is that the DIR. was outspoken
in the matter. He has spoken what
others believe. But Mr.. Grinnell says
more brainy men and big taxpayers say
nothing, and assumes their silence
gives consent to course of officials in
not collecting the tax. Friend Grinnell
there are some of our brainy citizens,
and large taxpayers, who can only look,
with dismay and horror, at some of
those places selling liquor without au-
thority-the death of dear son looms
up in their minds, it cannot be forgotten.
DIR. Gowan is reminded of his action in
trying to keep the whisky money for
the township. Dr. Gowan was not a
resident of the village at that time and
his action was as an attorney employed
by supervisor John ID. Jones and when
satisfied that village ought to have it,
advised Jones to quit hindering the
matter.
But the most astonishing phenomena
in all of the discussion. is how easy it is
for those who are defending wrong to try
and sanctify their utter disregard and
neglect of official duty. Grinnell claims
he has used talent God gave him. /
cannot deny his statement; but there
is this, if his statement is true. such a
talent is of but little use in collecting
liquor tax or supervising the affairs of
the village, and he is out of place.
Grinnell speaks of things he has not
done; but John don't be offended if the
writer asks You to tell the people what
you have done? They are certainly
anxious to know. There are quite a
number at a loss to know what you ever
attempted to do and did it. What
you have not done people Will not be
likely to forget soon, viz: the loss the
village is going to sustain through your
refusal to enforce the law in collecting
the liquor tax. Mr.. Lamon collected il
and he deemed it his duty and James
Brown collected it, please tell us why
you will not.
The doctor. because he dare speak out
against the lawlessness of village Off.
GERS must be maligned and his acts var.
nished with the garments of falsehood
although in fact true. The statement
that the DR.. agreed to serve village for
S25 salary is true, but such service was
distinctly understood to be only for adj.
vice, work in the administration of af.
fairs of village was to be extra and DR.
Gowan made out his account for actual
services, in relation to collection of Ii.
J quor tax, drafting of new ordinances
and seeing the same lawfully recorded
published ETC., and caring for and as.
sisting in collecting what was due in
. the Grandy matter to village, and upon
submitting his account, stated to coun.
Gil "do what you believe is right and
be satisfied" What the council
allowed him for services he received
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