Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-03-15
A REvIEW AND CRITICISM OF THE
LIQUOR LAWS OF WISCONSIN.
Written for the W. C. I. U. Convention, Held at
Durand. Dec. 10, 1857.
By Mrs. M. A. B. SMITH.

the wife and children would be injured
by this ;niquitous business, planned to
compensate them by few paltry dol.
lars. Realizing its sure results, how dare
they place the traffic under the protect.
ION of law!
Section 5 provided that no suit for
liquor-bills should be entertained by
any courts of the state.
There is question here whether the
legislators really meant to deprive the
saloon-keeper of the right to collect his
his bills; or whether this section was
not shrewd dodge to inaugurate the nc
credit. or "pay as you go policy for
the saloon. leaving legitimate branches
of trade to enjoy the "pay as you can"
policy, and bear the heavy losses of the
credit system. The answer seems to be
that recognizing the results of the
traffic as evil and only evil they only
lacked the moral courage to Danish it.
On the face of the law it would seem
to the casual observer, that the legisla-
ture really meant to give the liquor
traffic little thrust, aud / have nc
doubt many an innocent temperance
man thought this was temperance legis.
lation i'm other words, little curtailmen,
of the traffic-so small. however that
the animal didn't even vince.
While have shown the weakness
and inconsistency of this statute. it was
not all bad; the state took no part OF
the profits, gave the traffic very little
protection, and enable those who suf-
fered to obtain small redress. OCCASION
ally, thereby putting the seller in some
fear.
The little restriction provided by the
"bond law was too much for the friends
of the traffic, and influences were
brought to bear upon the legislature
which caused speedy repeal of the
whole chapter, and, in 1851 an entirely
new law was passed, again licensing
the traffic.
In 1858 many of the people, thor
oughly dissatisfied with the results of
licensed dram-shops, petioned to the
legislature for prohibitory law. Such
a bill was introduced and for time
seemed likely to pass, but the ever-vig-
liant eyes of the saloon element blazed
directly into the legislature and they
dared not take the responsibility of
passing such measure. 1t compro-
missed the matter by submitting to
the people at the fall election the ques-
ton of prohIbitory law. The popular
vote stood 81, 5l9 for. and "a, 109 against
the law, thus giving majority of over
5000 in favor of it.
The Governor in his message to the
legislature the next year said. in refer
ing to this law: 1.-The expression of
public opinion contemplated by the act,
submitting the question to a popular
vote isnow be fore you, and itremains for
you in your wisdom to determine what
will best satisfy the whole people in re-
lation to the subject" This por-
ton of the message was referred to
special committee, who reported
strong prohibitorY law and recon-
mended It's passage. 1t passed the as
sembly by 43 to %. In the senate it
was amended so as to require its SUBJ
mission to popular vote before going
into effect, and in this form passed, 16
to 6. The assembly refused to accept
the amendment on the ground that the
people had already declared in favor of
it, and thus the law failed.
In 1855 prohibitory law passed both
houses by nearly two-thirds vote bus
was vetoed by the governor. From
this time on the growth of the saloon
power can be clearly traced in legisla-
ton. 1t had prevented the passage of
any new laws that might be considered
restrictive and the law of 1851 contin-
ued substantially unchanged for many
years, the price of the license during
this time varying from $40 to 800, ac-
cording to the acuteness of the COM
bined consciences of the law makers
Occasionally a Slight temperance
breeze would trouble the political wa
tiers when, to restore calm, the legisla-
tors would buster around aud make
it appear that this time something
would be accomplished that might be
called temperance legislation. This ex-
element, however, would soon pass
away, leaving the liquor traffic to thrive
and grow under the fostering care of
the state. In all these years the tenn
perance sentiment throughout the coun-
try had been steadily growing, notwith-
standing the many set-backs and dis
couragements which had been received
by those who labored faithfully for its
DTOmOllOu, anu li ~ .
ward movement WINS made all along the
lines. In 1872 the temperance senti-
ment of the country waxed stronger
and The nation witnessed the birth of a
new party pledged 10 the complete
annihilation of the liquor traffic, and
a little later cams the wonderful Cru
SADIE, from whose mighty faith and pur
pose grew our grand w. G. L. L.
To meet this growing sentiment the
legislature of our own state. while ex-
pressly retaining the license law en-
acted the celebrated Graham Law"
which has been considered by many
one of the most stringent laws against
the traffic ever placed on our statute
books.
We will briefly consider this law
which is found in Chapter 127 of the
General Laws of 1872.
Section l. provided that a ''bond of
$4,000 be given conditioned for pay
ment of all damages to any person or
persons, which might be infected upon
or suffered by them either in person or
property or means of support.by reason
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