San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-28
legislation can effect much II properly
formulated and wisely applied.
SELLING LIQUOR TO MINORS.

SELLING LIQUOR TO MINORS.
Those damage suits against saloon
keepers for selling liquors to minors
contrary to law is q move In the dlrec-
ton OF better things. Only one cOnsid-
Grafton should be noted. The parents
and guardians OF minors should notify
the keepers OF saloons not to sell before
instltuting suit. II has been so gener-
ally the custom 10 this city to sell liquor
without question to those under legal
age that 1t would work a hardship
against licensed vsEdOrs OF alchohollo,
..lr $40 vrrous liquors n the prosecu-
Nr.s Tor damages should b. Instituted
without due DOIice rrue, IL Is contrary
to law to sell TO minors, but the ques-
ton as to who is a minor is not so easily
settled in the cases OF scores Of young
men who hover on the verge OF their
majority and the LIGHT would give the
saloon keeper the chance to save himself
a heavy damage suit II so minded.
There are saloon keepers In this city
who would not sell liquor to
minors knowing them to be such
and who conduct their business
in q strictly legitimate and law
observing way. Then, again, there
are saloon keepers in this city who
would sell liquor every hour OF the day
In direct violation OF law without one
conjunction, and can only be deferred
from so doing by the rigid enforcement
Of the penalties attached to such viola
ton. So far as the law is concerned, that
approved March Goth, 1887, selling liquor
to any person under the age 81 years
is strictly prohibited, and for every vio-
lation the seller is subject 20 fine OF
$500 for the benefit Of the county as well
as for individual damages. There are al
together too many minors drinking
nightly In the saloons OF this city, and 1t
lie high time 1t was stopped. There Is
plenty Of time for young man to go to
the devil after he Is twenty.one years
old, II he chooses that road, and the
LIGHT Is decidedly In favor OF giving
him a chance to form his habits and face
the other way in the young morning OF
his life. The position OF the LIGHT need
not be misunderstood on this point.
This journal is 10 favor Of the largest
liberty ofindlvidual action on the part
irresponsible citizens. 1t advocates the
licencing and regulation OF houses OF
prostitution, gambling houses and
saloons. 1t advocates this upon prin-
oiples Of confederation for the public
good and private virtue and security.
So long as human nature remains as 1t Is
and the vices that corrupt society exist,
so long must provision be made for regu-
sating these habits which cannot be
totally suppressed, and for this reason
the LIGHT advocates license and regula-
ton. At the same time 1t is the bust
ness Of the state and municipality to
educate against crime, and this law
making it serious offence to sell liquors
to a minor, to admit him to gambling
house or to house OF ill-fame Is just
and humane law, having for Its end the
education OF the youth In such habits
as will lead his manhood steps away
from cOrrupting associations. The
minor in law is not responsible, and
therefore the law should make others re-
sponsible for him during his minority.
Thus it does do In this case, so far as the
liquor seller is concerned. and makes
him resp nsible for the minor by punish
in -pvrrely for selling him intOxlcants
.. -farr Supp tee me. his guardian
80 that extent and insists that II his
PARENTS and legal guardians do not
interpOse to save him from acquiring
corrupt habits, the state will do so to
the extent OF making 1t unlawful for
him TO appear in certain places during
his minority. This law against selling
liquor to minors is almost dead letter
in this city. 1t should be vigorously en-
forced and the last penalty exacted for
its Infringement Only, let the saloon
keeper have fair warning that the law Is
to be enforced, for he is not any more
responsible for its non-enforcement than
Is the general public. If he fails to heed
that warning, let him take the full con-
sequences of his act.
EIectrIo BItters