Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-09
LIQUOR TRADE AND COUPONS,
Patriotic Appeal from the Protec
tive AssOctatiOn's Committee.


The following circular has been sent TO all
OF the liquor.dealers OF this city:
The time is AZ hand when we must again
renew our license il intending to continue
business during the ensuing gear; and In
this connection the Executive Committee OF
the Liquor Dealers Protective Association
OF this city, having carefully and fully con-
sidered the circumstances surrounding ns,
feel 1t incumbent upon them to respectfully
urge upon ali members OF the trade the wis
dom, policy, aud tbe keeping OF good faith
h the state 10 pay our hcense-taXes IN
money.
This Is no new question. for II is upon us
every year. and il bas become a most potent
factor in determining orr position before
the people Of Yirgiuis, aud in securing their
support against the intolerance and IN
creasing strength OF those who would de-
Driye Us Of our business. The agents Of the
bondholders arc again urging us with all the
iemptCr's wiles 10 accept their offers, and
by the promise Of present gain OF few
paltry dollars to bring wreck and ruin In the
nearing future.
It is but couple of years ago that we won
q great victory over our opponents IN this
city upon the questiOn SO vital 70 our inte-
rests; but the victory, great az it was, was
made before the issue was joined and the
good faith with which We maintained them.
Shall we risk all now by cutting loose from
these moorings OF safety, and to obtain the
insignificant sums saved TO Us by the bond
holders agents chance the issue again be-
fore an indignant people? And Is this not
truey Men who pay their taxes iu coupons
contribute nothing 10 the support OF the
goytrnment-iOr protection to life, limb,
aud property-and though they save a few
/ dollars for themselves IL Is at the expense OF
/ the rest, who naturally become embittered.
II personal interests are not sufficient TO
| influence you, we appeal again on the higher
| and lOitier ground Of patriotism and duty
| 10 stand 10y our State in the efforts she Is
making 10 free herself from the shackles OF
| the money god.
Read the plain and patriotic letter Of our
| able and unuring Second Auditor, Mr.
Frank G.. Rufin. in the Dispatch OF the 18th
Of April, lsss, and let hi, words convince
YOU II ours do not. Again, pay heed to the
/ solemn arguments OF the patriotic press OF
! this city aud State upon this great question,
| and be guided IN time by their appeals and
warnings. And just here let US quote from
an editorial article in the Richmond Wig
Of the 27th Of April last the following signi'
| fcant expression:
"Beforo discussing this subject We will give a
kindly warning % the liquor-deslcrs Of the city,
! who pay large proportion Of tho license-inXes.
Two years ago, when the question Of local option
/ was being agiiatoi, the Liquor-Dealers Assocla-
] tlcn held meeting ana pledged themselves 20
pay their taxes IN money aud not In coupons.
/ That won for them many friends and helped
them % defeat local option. One year later 10 IA
/ sad that many liquor-dealers rendered coupons
! in payment Of their taxes, and now II Is rumored
/ that quito a number will DO 20 again. To say the
i least u Will De very bad policy on thelr part 70
DO so, and will DO much 90 induce another strong
| effort 10 DO made TO adopt local option. When
| the test Is made again tho liquOr-dealerS will
! have only themselves 10 blame II their own bad
/ faith. added 20 the already strong temperance
I santimout prevailing hero, shall cause ma
I tority Of tho people Of the city 10 vote against
the granting % licenses. AZ all events, they VIII
4 in all probability have % pay out in campaign
/ expenses q great deal more than they can save
/ by paying their taxes in coupons. II the liquOr-
dealers arc wise they will pay their hcense-taI
| In money!
50 you see what is the opinion Of ono OF
the leading daily journals Of our city, and
though what il said applies With equal force
aud truth 10 all other branches OF trade, to
corporations, and property-own sill
their wrong-doing will not help US or justify
lis IN adopting 4 course so suicidal to ouI
interests ana so contrary 10 the Just eXpecta-
tions OF the people. And no matter whal
may be the action OF the merchants OF Rich
mond, no matter who may be in fault In this
regard. unless we stand together pledged "a
resist the efforts OF the boudholders, what
ever OF blame is to be attached to the course
OF Richmond, the responsibility will be
thrust upon US. and we alone must suffer.
Let US, therefore, give no cause for such
an reputation upon our faith or honor, and
by a strict adherence 10 principle be an eX.
ample Of duty well performed to the rest oi
our ielOw.cltizens.
BY order OF the Committee.
! y. J. Smith. chairman; y. 7. Rediord, secre'
tary; John NJ. Higgins, j. T. Ferriter
Peter Stumpf, \. w. Rosene, Daniel Ste
phens. philip O'Neill, Robert Hill. Jr., v
Donati, c. l.. Siegel, and X. y. Paul, oi
| the cnmmittee.