New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-01
man ITCFySE ~ Practice.

lSh enough 10 SLY lndL uOuuuN S"iN'
HIGH LICENSE ~ PRACTICE
We have now the results Of years tnal
of High License in two great States-penn-
sylvania and Minnesota. They give renewed
proofs as every showing made by High Ii
cense does, of the beneicent effects of pol
lev which the Democratic party has refused
to the taxpayers of this State. The new law
went into effect in Pennsylvania June 30
1887. The number Of licenses granted IN
1887 under the old law was IA, Oh ; under
the new law the number Of licenses granted
in 1888 was 33-a reduction of almost eX-
actv one-half of the whole number Of saloons
through the State. In other words, from end
to end of that great State, where there
were two saloons before there is only one now.
II is 4 contradiction Of common sense to sup
pose that this does not result in a great dimnu-
ton of drunkenness. But there is still an
other side to this question. The liquor traffic
fills our jails and almshouscS. Every man,
woman and child in the community is taxed
to support drunkardS and drunkardS' fam
lies 1t is only fitting that in the words OF
the Saratoga platform, a part Of this burden
.hould be lifted from the home and farm
High License secures this result aS no other
system of regulation does. The revenue from
licenses in PENNSYLVANIA in 1887 was ?9'6,-
179. and in 1888 under the new law - $50
1858. Thus, though the number Of saloons is
decreased by one-haf, and drunkenness much
diminished the contribution they are COM
PEELED to make toward the expenses of Gov
eminent, for which they arc so largely re-
Sponsblc is doubled
"The Voice. makes Enthusiastically dis
ingenious use Of the results in Pennsylvania.
1t shows that the number of applications for
licenses this year was II sol, or only 30
less than the number Of licenses granted last
year. and lays great stress on the fact that in
thirty-one counties there were 400 more ap-
picatonS for licenses in 1888 than there wclc
licenses granted IN 1887. No doubt there
were liquor-deaers who supposed that with
n smaller number Of saloons the individual
saloon which succeeded in getting license
might do a larger business than beforc-an
expectation which might be realized and might
not and yet even if it were, the sum total of
drinking and drunkenness might be much
diminished, rs it undoubtedly is. " The olcc'
knows very well that the fair comparison Is
not between the number Of applications made
in one year and the number Of licenses granted
in another, but between the applications made
in one year and the next or the licenses granted
in one year and the next. The number of APP
pcatOns is always largely in excess Of the
licenses granted. But even on this showing
the figures are eloquent against The Voice"
More than 1900 saloon-kcepcrs in Pcnnsyl-
vania gave up their business without even
making an application for Il license under the
new law, and Of those who did make applica-
ton nearly 1000 were refused licenses, max
ing the total number Of saloons closed by the
law nearly 900. Think OF it " THE Voice.
cannot bubble these figures out Of existence.
Exactly the same results have been shown in
Minnesota. There are now only ,597 saloons
in the State, as against 2.S06 when the law
went into force. There is also large increase
Of revenue. But a more important and more
interesting result is great improvement in tho
public morals. The low groggcrieS are closed.
There is universal testimony that police bust
ness is vastly decreased in the smaller towns
and villages, and with it drinking and drunk
cnneSS This effect is not 50 apparent in the
larger cities, but this is easily accounted for.
The reports from all parts OF the State agree
that the consumption Of liquor is reduced in the
same proportion as the number Of saloons, or
even more so. Besides the system has tended
to increase the purity of elections. The evil
dcnce on these points is direct and ummistak-
able
This is the system of which the Democratic
party has deprived the people Of New ork
State. Its representatives, in the Legislature
have steadily opposed it, its Governor has We
toed every bill and the attitude Of the party
in the Legislature has made it impossible to
pass any bill over his veto There is only one
way to secure this policy, and that is to elect
Warner Miller ard Republican Legislature