The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-12-19
GENERAL LOCAL OPTION.

Will Temporarily Satisfy Prohibitionisrs.
At the convention of the Maryland
State Temperance Alliance last May,
resolutions were passed in favor of ask
ing the coming legislature to pass bill
submitting to a vote of the people of the
state a constitutional amendment prohi
biting the manufacture and sale OF
liquor, except for mechanical and medi-
cinal purposes. At meeting on last
week of members of the Mary land Tenn
perance Alliance, held at Baltimore, the
matter was generally discussed, but no
action was taken thereon. At that
meeting Mr.. Edwin Higgins, late candi-
date for governor, expressed himself as
thinking it not advisable to ask for
prohibition amendment, but rather for a
general local option law. Rev. Henry
Branch, of Elllcott City, who, at the
state convention in May, brought the
subject before that body, was foremost
in advocating the proposition to have
the Legislature submit a constitutional
amendment to the people, expressed
himself as believing the best plan
would be to ask from the legislature
rather more than they might reasonably
expect that body to grant, in the hope
that in lieu of the constitutional amend
ment the legislature might grant the
temperance people the lesser request for
general local option law.
The opinions of Prohibitionists as to
what, if any, temperance legislation
should be asked from the coming legis
lature appear to be various. as exhibited
by the following interviews, which cover
the question in all its features.
MIR. HIGGINS WANTS GENERAL LOCAL
OPTION.
Mr.. Edwin Higgins, late candidate
for governor, and president of the State
Temperance Alliance, said: MY indi-
vidua opinion favors the asking of the
legislature to grant us a general local
option law, though, as the same time,
realize that a campaign for a constitu-
tional prohibitory amendment would be
educational. However, | think that 1t is
ment of general local option law, in
asmuch as that would be cause in
which all good citizens could take part
Protestants, Catholics, Hebrews, and all
who desire to do good could work and
vote for a general local option law.
lso think it would be possible to get a
- I'd portion of the city of Baltimore
n er local option if we could secure the
pe;ral bill to submit it to a vote Of the
nede at any election by counties, dis
= trict wards and precincts. We might
tbenecure prohibition for the residence
= nor,;,s of Baltimore and for the unim
n,o,ot precincts. The moral and indus
trial beeft to our city from such a
peneral local option law would, nc
donbt almost incalculable.
az ;slnder such law that Minlea-
noIis h, secured local option for two
thirds it's territory, combining the
saIoonS 20 its riverfrout section. Ne
have n thing to expect from the city
deIeo. jon, but will have to rely upon
the o,Inty mem bers."
DoEsSOT BELIEVE IN ASKING TO0 MUCH
". Joshua lowering, late candidate
for tate comptroller on the Prohibition
tio,et, said: 81 do not think it is ad
vieable to attempt to secure from our
legislature bill to vote on constitu-
tional prohibitory amendment. | think
the next best thing we can ask for is a
general local option law, somewhat like
that of the State of Massachusetts,
law which would permit towns, counties
districts, wards or precincts to vote OF
local option for their respective territory
My observation in the counties during
the late campaign leads me 30 think that
the country people are aroused on the
question of the Importance OF legislating
I