The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-05-10
High License in Havre de Grace.

Inc 'nlgn license cloven 1901 is Degln-
ming to show itself at Hayre de Grace, as
every were else. The old dragon proposes
to keep his promises no better even in the
sacred precincts of the harbor If Heaven
than in any other place. He has no respect
for name, places or persons. The Republican
announces with unfeigned regret, evidently,
that party of men who were discharged
laborers, had come into town and were soon
Keeling drunk. making it risky for peaceable
people to meet them on the street. Tho
Republican utters the following complaint:
One of the provisions of the law under
which liquor is sold in Havre de Grace for
people Of our city, in adopting the high
license law to govern and regulate the sale
Of liquor have right to demand that its
requirements be observed, ard not abused.
as it was last Saturday. If the dealers will
not do this, they should not complain if a
change in popular sentiment is effected, and
future legislation be made more stringent
and prohibitory."
If the editors of the Republican have kept
up with the history of high license" they
must know that the contract between licensee
and licensor is never in any case observed
by the former Every where from high
license states and towns comes the same dole
full complaint and protest uttered by the
Republican. The saloon will agree to any
conditions. All it asks IS The legal right to
sell, and it will risk consequences. The
liquor license laws carry on their face their
own absurdity. The business is taxed I'M
reasonably high if it is business which
should be allowed at all. If it is proper
business then it should not be Disseminated
against by the state, bnt placed on the same
plane with all othey business in relation to
license fees. And in addition to this ex-
tortionate license, there are other unjust re-
strictions placed upon it. Must not sell to
drunk people, mustn't sell to minors,
mustn't sell on election days, and a multi
tude Of other humiliating and unfair con-
ditions attached to the sale of whskey, that
no other business is hampered with. 1.-THE
business is at all permissible the state has
no right to attempt to impose unjust restuc-
tions. Those who enter into the business of
selling whiskey feel that great injustice is
attempted against them by the state
When is a man drunk? After he swallows
the first glass in degree, aud TO strictly
comply with the law no more must be sold
to him. Minors buy confectionery, grocer
les, etc., but the saloon keeper must be shut
off from their custom. All other stores are
open and doing business on election DAYS
except the saloon. Why this injurious
discrimination? The dealer in wh1skey has
paid much higher for the privilege than
other merchants, and yet, after taking his
money he is hampered with all these draw
backs. If he is not to sell 10 people who
drink how is he to make his business even
selfsustaining, much less profitable? There
: stands a willing customer outside of the
counter with the silver in his fingers, aud a
row of well filled bottles on the shelves be-
hind the saloon keeper; but the terms Of his
license forbid the whiskey merchant selling.
The customer has been drinking, or is prob.
: ably minor; or it ruay be day of election
with hundreds of thirsty customers al his
door. The very best day for business in the
whole year probably, and yet, after the state
taxing him heavily for the privilege of con.
Quoting his business, interfering to iniure
that business! He must sell or starve, and
to those who want to buy. The man is
placed between the devil and the deep sea,
as it were. Is it at all strange that he
: evades this palpable injustice, when ever
possible? If these stringent license laws
were complied with in letter and spirit no
: man could make the amount of his license
fee out of the business
Any person who will look at this qnes-
ton, using FIVE grains of common sense
must see that the state is in the wrong. 1t
has no right founded in justice to sell a
privilege and then attempt to prevent the
purchaser from enjoying it. And this is
what every high license to sell liquor does.
In short the people in their corporate capac-
ity as state are vastly more to blame for
llCtuSeS luT d sum OF mOneV 10
dividuals to sell whskey, with reservations
sufficient to make the privilege negatory,
than the saloon keeper who eyades these
arbitrary restrictions.
The license laws carry in themselves the
seeds of their own destruction, and must
ever fail as remedy for the saloon evil.
They have failed where ever tried. A suf.
) fcent length of time is all that is required
10 develop their defects and dismal failure.
There is but one remedy and that is for the
state to get out of the whlskey traffic. and
forbid it utterly. This is what the whiskey
ring fear above all else. They are willing
to pay any amount of license and subscribe
} to local option" laws, but prohibition never.
What your enemy don't want il is safe TO do
And what he favors you had best avoid.
The whiskey and beer rings ask for high
license. Beware! They hate prohibition.
Drive your stakes there.