The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-06-14
I.ooA YEAR, IN ADVANCE.
Friday. June IL, 1889.
Slsyphus.

MIDLAND JOURNAL. In fact this is The
policy of the whiskey and brewing associa-
tons, well defined and digested system 10
fasten their ne iarious business on the country
by grip so strong that they hope the sem
timent that is crystalzing in favor Of prohi-
bition, will not be able 10 break it. The
most lamenlable, as we'll as disgraceful
feature of this diabolical plot, is that the
real movers and insprers of 1.-THE whis-
key and beer associations-do not show
their hand to the public, but manage adroit-
ly to get professed temperance people, even
probibitionisls, ministers of the gospel and
humanitarians 10 put forward, endorse and
recommend this scheme to the public. If
the recommendation came from its real
authors, the whiskey ring, decent people
would flee from it; by making servants Of
those cowardly but good intentioned souls
their success has been really alarming.
The following is an extract from the pub
lie call which brought together the Balti-
more conference:
"Many efforts have been made 10 check
the evils of intemperance and its inevitable
consequences, crime bu; no efforts can be
permanently successful SO long as the mum.
erous drinking saloons are permitted 10 re-
main in the city. All know that they are
the fruitful sources ofpoverty, degradation,
Indebtedness and crime; they are the
haunts of evil minded men, and fill our
jails, almshouses and hospitals they are the
sc ho,eoLolJ ID 4 To
none but those who pecuniarily profit by
the bideous and shameful traffic"
The criminal guilty of half the crimes
enumerated in these few counts Of the in
dictment, all will agree, ought to be taken
ont and hanged or stoned 10 death without
delay. Mr.. w. w. Spence, who was made
chairman, in xIlaining the object of the
meeting said in the course ofhis remarks:
''This movement is in the interest of the
city of Baltimore. |: is no political venture.
A moral, financial and practical interest
Of the city is at stake"
This is very narrow view of the subject
as we'll as most selfish one, but the senli-
ment of the entire meeting seemed TO be-
crowded into the same contracted groove
All protested to be aiming at prohibition
but the people were not ready for so ad-
vanced step they declare. In order to
prepare the public for prohibition they pro-
pose 10 cut down the number of saloons
which is now 1900 in the city-to 1000, and
charge these 1000 saloons $1,000 each Ter
the privilege of selling as much beer and
whiskey as the 1000 now sell. This would
raise 100000 of revenue for the city!
These grave advisers in this advice, sug-
gest that 81 100000 annually would offset
the catalogue Of crime they enumerate in
the above court! Now in all seriousness,
does any sensible man believe that prohi-
bition could he reached by this method till
the crack of doom? This advisory commit
tee gravely propose TO permit the powerful
whiskey ring to carry on the nefarious work
which they characterize as the fruitful
sources of poverty, degradation. wletched-
ness and crime" for and in consideration Of
this sum of money. And as a reason they
allege that the city government is not able
to control the whiskey ring, so they will
compromise with the greatest crime breeder
known and quietly let it proceed without
an effort 10 stop 1t. Mr.. Spence in his re-
marks further says that prohibition is an
impractlcable idea, and the whiskey ring
says the same.
High license will reduce the number tf
saloons. Under a we'll framed law the sa.
lions remaining could be more thoroughly
watched. 1t is a mistake to suppose that
licensing the sale of liquor is giving to the
evils of intemperance the saction of law"
All, indeed! People would like you to
explain, Mr.. Spence, how this can be. Not
the sanction of law when the law sells the
privilege! Very amusing logic that.
In short the recommendation of this ad
varced committee is to accept the bride
which the liquor ring is every where offer
ing, heavy license fee as immunity for
continuing their business unmolesed. This
bride to taxpayers and officials places the
saloon practically above the law, and the
business is carried on with impunity. 1t is
when once accepted held over the heads #
taxpayers as a menace, and the saloon grad
ually disregards more and more these pro-
visions which are placed in the high license
laws intended to be restrictions. The his
tory of every high licensed city in the
country. proves this, and those who talk
about restrictions in connection with license
10 sell liquor show an inexcusable ignorance
on the subject. But the daily papers are
every where bribed by the whiskey and
beer monopolies to keep the public as long
as possible in the dark on the subject. In |
Philadelphia, the liquor associations have
an advertising agency which prepares the
copy and contracts with the daily papers OF
The state TO publish the false matter which
appears in those papers as vieus, against the
amendment, and for which the whiskey and
beer associations pay at the rate Of so cents
line. This bribery of the daily press by
the powerful whiskey ring is the browning
disgrace of the time and is lowering its in-
fuence in public opinion as nothing has
ever done before. The same tactics are no
doubt preparing for Maryland.
But there is another outrageous phase to
the high license bribery system, that is re-
voting TO public sentiment, which is the
the mOnopoly IL creates The liouor traffic