Smyrna times., 1896-03-18

will be, will weaken the Democracy.
Some Republicans, too, have viOlen-
ly assailed the measure, but i'll every
,ase where this has been done the
motive seems to have been to attack
Mr.. Platt who is accused of sponsoring
he bill.
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
No special attention needs to be paid
to the anger of the Democracy and the
less reputable saloon-keeping class,
The bill is recognized by almost every
fair minded person as a step in the
right direction. It is in accordance
with the common disposition through
out the United States to impose larger
prices for the privilege of selling liquor,
and severer restrictions upon its sale.
The committee made careful examina
ton of the statutes of all the States,
and found that where there had been
recent legislation it had all been in the
direction of high fees for licenses. and
severer restrictions.
1t was discovered that even in the
States where prohibition sentiment
has been very strong there is a marked
tendency toward license, or at least
local option, with very high charges
for the license. Vermont seemed to
be the only exception to this tendency
It was discovered that in Connecticut,
where year ago a very high rate was
adopted against the protests of the less
reputable liqur sellers, and many of
the Democratic leaders, the results
have been very satisfactory.
The two objections to the measure
which deserve candid consideration,
and which seem to have had some
weight, are, first that the law does not
make proper discrimination between
those places which are licensed to sell
what are commonly known as ''hard''
liquors and those which sell only the
milder spirituous, or malt liquors.
Some of those who have supported the
general principles contained in the
Raines bill have felt that there ought
to be a discrimination. 1t may be that
after the trial of year or two, the
Legislature will decide to make sucl
discrimination as seems best. This
other objection to the Raines bill il
the common one which is made by
those who believe that Legislation
should be invoked not to regulate, bu
to prevent entirely the sales of liquor
These persons are for the most par
PrOhibitiOnists, although some other
fear that a very high license rate vii
cause an increase of illegal secret liq
uOr selling. 1t was said at Alban,
that the experience in Philadelphia ha,
been that the high rate adopted in tina
city had caused a good many of thos
secret drinking places known a
''speakeasies" to be established. Bu-
the reply to that was that even if
were so it was nevertheless a proof 0
the efficiency of the measure, since i
compelled men who dared to defy tn
law to do it with secrecy with whicl
other crimes are committed.
THE EFFECT OF THE RAINEs BILL.
To politicians everywhere it is prob
ably of more interest to know what tn
effect of the Raines bill upon the pc
litical situation in New York will be
than what the effect in restricting tn
sale of liquor and in eliminating tn
low and vile places, will be.
Some pains have been taken to %
the opinion of fair-minded men {
either party, and the statement made
few days ago by a very promineI
Democrat, who has perhaps as tho
ough a knowledge of political cond
tions in New York as any political
has gained in recent years, is fa
suggestion of opinion as it has bee
found to exist. This man said: Thi
so far as there would be any politics
effect it would be likely to help IL
Republican, rather than the Dem,
cratic party. In the State at large
would be likely to bring to the Repu1
lican party good many of those WI
have for some years acted with Il
Prohibition party. In the city of Ne
York it could not harm the Republics
party, and might be of great benefit
it, and in a perfectly proper way.
could not harm the Republican par
in New York city because the vast M
jority of those who are in the liqu
business and who are opposed to his
license are already in the Democrat
party. The Republican party wou
not lose their support, because
never had their support. On the 9th
hand, the chances are that those re
utable sellers of liquor who are able
pay the high license fee, many of who
: are entirely willing to pay it, sin
they regard it as a cheap method
getting rid of a good deal Of compe
ton, will be likely, so far as they a
influenced politically at all, to suppc
the party which adopted this law.
RUM CLUBS MUST co.
Furthermore, this Democrat sa
that the law absolutely puts an end
the power of the saloons In nolitics
New York city. Even if a new poll
cal machine be created it will be
State machine, and its influence W
not be extended to the voters as h
!, been so long the case in New Yo
city. The corner saloon has been t
headquarters Of many Of the Tamma
, District organizations. 1t has be
the political club-room of the bu
the short, and the dishonest man. Y
saloonkeepers as a class have be
ooro,olIaI g..