Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-02-05
Strictly Democratic.

It's HIGH time that the honest por-
ton of the democratic party call a
halt in the doiugs of the democratic
state officials at Lansing. Already
their actions have become a by word
and a reproach. The latest thing
out and one that won't arouse much
surprise. SO characteristic is 1T of the
men in power is thus described by
the Lansing Republican:
"The first democratic state admin
istration in thirty-sevcn years" has
gone into the saloon business on a
large scale. 1t has just leaked out
that the canteen system, which was
so loudly defended and highly en-
dorsed by Gov. Winans at the last
encampment of state troops, cost the
state the sum of $40, which went to
pay for a state license.
a deputy internal revenue collector
swooped down on the camp and
GLOWING his way to the Guar plank
ed down a nickle and received there
for glass of the cooling drought
that the men in uniform were getting
two for FIVE. Having thus satisfied
himself that the great state OF Mich
igan was selling beer to all corners,
and that, too, for the money there
was in it, as he was charged double
the plice that soldiers were required
TO pay. The representative of the
general government called on Com
mander in Chief Winans and asked
him TO designate the proper officer
from whom to collect the United
States malt liquor tax.
His excellency was astonished that
such thing should be thought Of,
and protested that the state was not
liable for such tax. as II was not
selling beer for profit, but was only
furnishing it to the soldiers at cost
and insisted that a citizen could not
buy a glass of beer at the counter for
love or money. He was convinced,
however, that any one who possessed
the price could get what he wanted
Just the same as at any other saloon
and they said that those in charge Of
the canteen we're exceeding their
orders. \ conference was held and
all efforts 10 bluff the collector prov
ing Intellectual, Gov. Winans advised
that the license be paid as it would
look bad to have any row about the
matter. After some parIying it was
decided that Quartermaster Suckert
was the proper official to take out the
license and as that official being alb
sent for the day the collector issued
a blank upon promise being made
that $40 should be sent him immedi-
ately upon the quartermasters return.
This was on July l6, and after wait
ing vainly for eight days for the mon
ey form OF complaint was made out
and sent to the proper official with the
recommendation that 4 prosecution
be instituted. Sackert was, however,
given one more chance to save his
distance and after some additional
delay he came down with the cash,
and then, for the first time, the great
state OF Michigan had right to sell
malt liquors at retail.
The fact that the license was paid
is ample confession on the part of
the governor and other officials that
the law was violated and that liquor
was sold openly to all corners. With
the senate chamber converted into a
barroom during the Legislative ses-
sion, the state conducting a general
saloon business for profit, indorsed
by its chief executive and prominent
state officials our prohibition friends
must certainly see an opening for
some earnest missionary work. 10
say nothing of the immortality, it
is not just the right precedent to
establish for the hundreds of saloon
lists who are occasionally arrested for
violating the liquor laws.