The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-10-21
HOW 1894 WAITS ON 1893 ON THb
LICENSE ISSUE IN OEOIL.

latIOn OF attorney 10 Tue Liduoi
Association of Maryland aided IN the
framing of, and helped to secure the
passage of the law in the Legislature OF
1909, and whose professional zeal in its
behalf, largely contributed to its majority
at The election of that year, Vonld not
be a Practical declaration in fa1or OF
tile byeseuf lar, IN adsauce Of the
bobulay veydict upon Hnest taHs
We certainly think it would be.
Let US look at this proposition a
moment.
Mr.. Crothers is aware, that there
exists in the minds of hundreds OF
voters in Cecil county, perfectly rea-
sonable and justihable feeling Of resent
ment against him, for his participation
in the attack and defeat of our prohi-
bitcry law.
That resentment would have existed,
and found its expression at the
polls, even had Mr.. Crothers been
opposed to the Prohibltory law upon
principle. and had used his influence
at Annapolis to reopen the license
question in Cecil, solely as the result
of conscientious conviction that he
was right In his position towards pro-
hibition, and besides had the indiVid-
ual right to hold what opinion he
pleased, and use his influence as he
saw proper.
But Mr.. Crothers took step higher,
in his opposition to prohibition.
We do not argue, that he had not a
perfect right to do so, but having done
so, he must needs pay the penalty of
his act.
He made his opposition to the pro-
hibitory law a matter of dollars and
cents, of pecuniary profit, and turned to
his own account very pretty penny,
by becoming the paid attorney OF the
Liquor Dealers Association of Mary
land, the lawyer OF the Hotel Keepers
Association of Cecil county, and the
counsel and adviser OF the Inter State
Liquor Sellers Combination.
In other words, he did, as we do not
deny he had the right to do If he so
desired, he became the business and
financial representative of the liquor
interest in Cecil county, and reaped
we have no doubt, a splendid fee for
his professional services in that interest.
For this reason we assert, he has
by his own act-made his antagonism
to the friends of prohlbitory system,
the more pronounced, and OF which
fact he is perfectly aware.
Nov, will any reasonably impartial
mai pretend to argue, that the cleo
ton of Mr.. Crothers to tine Senate of
Maryland this fall, with the prospective
friendship and possible continued pro
fessional support of his liberal clients,
and the public declaration and author
ity for Inappropriate legislation" of his
party in Cecil behind him, will not
place the friends of license on the van
tage ground in the contest of next
year.
If the advocates of license did not
realize the advantage to their cause of
having as their counsel at Annapolis
so valuable an adherant, and so shrewd
a manager as Mr.. Crothers, why should
they be so jealous of his candidacy
az00v, and take such especial pains to
impress part;zan Democrats who are
anti-license Democrats also, that license
is not an issue now, and that the
CECIL WHO is merely dragging that
question in during this campaign, with
the hope of gaining some partizan
Republican advantage by doing so.
Partizan Republican advantage
Bosh
What mere partizan advantage could
the election OF Mr.. Haines to the
Senate of Maryland possibly secure to
the Republicans of Cecil county,
Simply nothing, since on every ques-
ton except such as was OF a local
character, he would be overslaughed by
an overwhelming Democratic maj or1ty
in the Legislature.
Viewed in Its proper light therefore,
and considered IN its true bearing, the
election of Mr.. Haines, would be only
potentially significant with reference to
the license contest of next year, since
that is of more supreme importance to
the people of Cecil county than any
other public question, that will demand
dtlSilliOb, dlu Ill
the coming Legislature.
Treat the subject in any light pos
sible or reasonable, and the conclusion
remains inevitable, that the election of
Mr.. Crothers will substantially point
to the overthrow of prohibition next
year, and the perpeluatlon for years to
come, of license system in the
county.
If the devotion OF temperance Dem
ocrats to the partizan doctrines of their
party is stronger principle, than their
adherence to moral, and home issue
like prohibition, and one that comes
straight to their own doors, let them
vote with their eyes open, and next
year, when under this same Mr..
Crothers leadership, they feel the tight
embrace of the liquor license serpent
close around them, let them not plead,
hat they could not see in 1898, what
was awaiting them in 1894. |