The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-02
Local ontinn In Enrnr.


There IS no better method for settling
the liquor question In any community
than local option. In every county in this
state in which that method IS being tried
the liquor question has ceased 10 be a
troublesome one. If a majority OF tn,
voters In a county want intoxicants sold
within its limits they say so by their
votes, and II they are against their sale
the law prohibiting them IS pretty GER
tain TO be enforced. 1t is enforced be-
cause those whose duty it is to enforce
law discharge their duty faithfully. know
ing they have the support of public sent-
ment It is a difficult matter to en-
force a law which is not approved by
majority Of the people.
For long time the authorities Of New
York city have been pretending TO on
force the law against the sale Of beer
and other alcoholic drinks in that city
on Sundays. They have not been sue
cessful. The present administration Of
the city, and especially Commissioner
Roosevelt, the chairman of the police
board. have been trying 10 close the sa-
looms in the city on Sundays. The COM
missioner's course has caused a great deal
of dissatisfaction. A week ago last Sunday
New York had a dry Sunday. Last Sun
day. however. according to the newspaper
reports. everybody could get beer or any
other intoxicant in whatever quantity he
desired.
1t is, therefore. assumed by the police
authorities that It is practically impossible
in New York city to enforce the law
against selling intoxcants on Sundays.
The law is evaded one way or another.
People manage to get as much beer and
whisky as they want.
A day or two ago the mayor of New
York suggested local option for the set
Element of the question as to whether The
saloons shall sell beer and other alco-
holic drinks on Sundays. Let the people
say by their votes whether they want
the saloons open on Sundays, is what he
proposes, and there are many influential
NV Workers who think his suggestion
a good one. The newspapers are discuss
ing the suggestion, and some of them
think it offers the means of solving a
troublesome question. 1t is probable that
a majority would favor opening the sa-
Icons. Still, there are those who contend
that the temperance people, together with
others who favor keeping the saloons clos
ed on Sundays, are numerous enough to
make New York a dry city" on Sundays.
But whatever the result of a vote on the
question of opening the saloons on Sun
day might be, it would be generally ac-
oepted because it would be the will of the
majority. If the result was in favor of
closed saloons the authorities would en-
force the law strictly, because they would
have the support of public sentiment, and
IL it was In favor of open saloons the
temperance people would cease to com
plain. They would simply bow to the will
of the majority, and would exert them
selves to get the majority TO accept their
view.
Local option is steadily growing in
favor. 1t is a much more effective way
of settling the issues growing out of the
sale of intoxicants than any other that
has been suggested. The ACCESSIBILITY of
adopting 1t to limit the sale of intoxi-
cants is now being discussed in England,
and the probabilities are that temperance
people in this country will very generally
adopt 1t in preference to a prohibitory
law.