The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-11-08
ELKToN. NOVEMBER s, 1890.
ONE REASON FOR 1T.

ONE REASON FOR 1T.
Ten years ago in an aggregate
vote of $3.50, an imperfect local
option law was carried in Cecil
county by the decisive majority of
1914; on Tuesday last, in total
vote of only 4,279, far better law
was defeated by majority of 2SS.
What has caused so marked
change in public sentiment?
1t cannot be assumed that the con-
viction OF the evils of the traffic in
intoxicants is any less pronounced
now than it was ten years ago, or
that the people of the county are
any more kindly disposed towards
whiskey now than they were then.
We venture the assertion that as
many voters are ready to concede
-the-evils of rum drinking upon the
individual, and the injury of the
traffic to the public morals to-day as
there were then.
Yet here is an election at which
these important questions are at
issue, when about I,Io7 voters in
the county voluntarily absent them
selves from the polls, and so far as
they are concerned allow the cleo
ton to go by default.
Why is this?
In our opinion among number
of reasons conspiring to bring about
this confessed Indifference of so
large a proportion of our voters,
and hence resulting in the defeat of
Tuesday, is the inefficient enforce
ment of the present law. and its con-
sequent comparative failure to pre-
vent illicit rum selling.
Conservative people have about
come to believe that the present law
can be violated almost with IMMUNITY,
the county be put to the expense of
prosecutions innumerable, and yet
scarce one wholesome lesson be
taught illicit rum vendors. And
what is more the existing condition
promises no change for the better.
We believe, that the failure to
secure a single conviction out OF so
large number of presentments at
the recent September term of our
Circuit Court. had more to do with
the result of Tuesday than all other
causes combined. Clearly in our
opinion the misleading figures, cir
culars and posters with the spasmo-
die activity of few Elkton politi-
clans, had little to do in influencing
the result. The disappointing out
come of their effort in the Elkton
district shows this. Indeed had they
!. WoskeGh~sh--'.oiiier districts of the
County as effectively (?) as they did
the Third, they would undoubtedly
have by their Incorporate zeal de-
feated their own cause.
Now every one familiar with the
local history Of prohibition knows,
that there were hundreds of voters IN
the county who voted for local option
in 1880, who were really not friendly
to it, and who believed that it would
prove failure when adopted, but
who voted for it simply in Difference
to public sentiment, and to what
seemed reasonable experiment and
popular movement to abate public
evil.
= But its enemies were of course
Aggressive from the moment it went
nto effect in May 1881. They were
hrewd enough to know that the
question of enforcement was the
ock upon which the friends OF the
NV must be split. They therefore
acouraged the most fragrant vio-
ions of the law, and which its de.
tivefeatures unfortunately favored.
hey took defiant attitude to-
DIS it, embarrassed prosecutions
is violation by every means in
power, and went just as far as
dared in breaking down public
'ence in the expediency of such
enerally, and the practicability
If enforcement. In all this
m was apparent. They did
- nd that the question should
second time to the
4 unity upon it's merits
A vent it. The oppor-
Il 1886 to do again
he in 1880, viz, to
by non-partizan
e necessities oil
ounty. But the
county would
The unworth
fo rort1zop