The Forrest City times., 1893-03-31
LOCAL PROHIBITION.

LAWS fFOnlD1ftng tne S8tt ot
 Liquors Within Prescribed Territory How This Was Brought About.
 The St. Louis Post-Dispatch a few days ago contained the following letter from Little Rock, which will be read with considerable interest by advocates on both sides of the liquor question:
 The authority vested in the legislature to enact special laws prohibiting the sale of in- toxicants within specified distance of a church or schoolhouse in any locality where majority of the citizens residing in the terri tory desire the banishment of the saloon has been freely exercised during the present ses- sion of the general assembly. The wholesale liquor dealers of St Louis, Cincinnati and Louisville have had their representatives at Little Rock. but despite all their arguments only one bill of this character has been defeat ed, that exception being the which pro- posed to prohibit the sale of liquor within 10 miles of the Hope female college in Hampstead county. In this case the merchants and bus- ness men of Hope and Washington took hand in the fight and the influence was too great for the legislature to ignore it. A4 other local option bills. introduced in either house have passed without debate and by large majorities. The laws of Arkansas provide three ways by which the sale of whisky and other fermented liquors may be prevented.
 At every general election the voters Of each county decide whether or not the county shall grant license to keepers. Ali the cleo tion in Septem Der. 1899, one-thired of the coun- ties in the state voted against license, fol- lows: Ashley Bradley. Calhoun, Cleveland Columbia, Dallas, Drew. Franklin, Fulton, Grant, Hot Spring, Izard, Johnson Lawrence, Lonake, Madison Marion, Polk. Pope. Saline, Sharp Union, Van Buren and Washington.
 License for dramshops is denied if a major ity of the adult citizens within 3 miles of church or schoolhouse petition the county court, remonstrating against it. This is the second way by which the sale of liquor may he prohibited.
 The third and most effective scheme by which the saloon may be shut out of a community is by special act of the legislature Special laws of this character have been enacted since 1883, and none of them have been repealed. No mat ter how numerously signed the petition may he, praying for the repeal the legislature always refuses to obliterate the circle within which the sale of the ardent is prohibited.
 During the present session Of the legislature two bills were introduced, asking the repeal of local option laws. The first concerned Jones' boro, the county seat of Craighead county. Hon. Emmet Rodgers. an active, intelligent and energetic young journalist was elected representative from the county by majority of almost two to one. the issue in the primary canvass being the question of the repeal of the 4mile law at Jonesboro. enacted by the legisla- ture of 1887. Mir Rodgers was in favor of the repeal of the law. In the formation of the house committees MT. Rodgers made chairman of the committee on temperance. He brought to the legislature q petition signed by nearly all the citizens of Jonesboro and vii cinity affected by the law asking for it's repeal The house. after considering the question an entire afternoon defeated the bill. MT. Rodg CTS resigned the chairmanship Of the commit tee few days ago. He said he believed in To- col ca1f fnYrc nF mending the passage of bills prohibiting the sale of intoXicants within localities where the majorities of citizens desired such laws, and was also willing to make similar reports upon bills to repeal such laws when desired by 8 majority of citizens and taxpayers. He be- heved the rule should be allowed to work both ways.
 The second case in which the legislature de- clined to repeal one of these acts that in which Batesyille was interested The law pro- hibits the sale of intoxicants within miles of the Arkansas college. located in Batesville. and was enacted by the legislature of 1891. Since that time couple of fruit distilleries have been established near Batcsyille, and majority of the citizens came to the conclusion that if they could only throw off the shackes of prohibition times would be enlivened in their midst. and instead of the blind tiger few saloons might be established in the town from which the coun- ty and municipality might derive considera- Die revenue. Mucn tune was consumed III ulS- cussing the bill which finally suffered defeat like the JonesbOro measure.
 In about one half of the territory in the state Of Arkansas the sale of intoxicants is prohib- ited. In addition to the twenty-four counties which voted against license at the September election local-option laws are in force at the following places, the limits averaging from to 10 miles.
 Arkansas County-DeWitt.
 Benton-Rogers.
 Boone-Rally Hill.
 Clark-Long's schoolhouse, GurdOn. Arkadel- phia. OIolona.
 Conway-M -Morrilton. Center Ridge. Spring. field.
 Cleburne-Sugar Loaf.
 leveland-Kingsland
 Craighead-Jonesboro
 Dallas-Dalark, Shady Grove
 Drew-Monticello.
 Faulkner-Conway, Vilona, Greenbrier.'
 Frankin--Allus.
 Hempstead-Bingen, Ozan.
 Independence -Batesville. Jamestown
 Jackson-Auveryne Tucllerman.
 Lawrenee-Portia.
 Nevada Prescott.
 Newton-Jasper Western Grove academy.
 Phillips-Poplar Grove
 Scott-Park academy, Boles Waldron, Cauth, ron.
 St. Francis-Wheatley.
 SeYier- Brownstone academy
 Sebastian -Buckner, Hickory Grove.
 Van Buren-Clinton.
 Washington Fayetteville.
 White-Searcy. Judsonia.
 Yell-ChlSalah, Fouche Valley school, Dan vile Belleville, Piedmont.
 Thirteen bills, prohibiting the sale of liquor fin as many localities, have been introduced in this legislature. nine of which have passed. the remainder being on their second and third readings. Should all the local option bills now pending become part of the statutes, which they undoubtedly will the territoryin Ar