The true northerner., 1897-10-12


While the temperance people of Van
Buren county have reason To believe
that the election to be held on Novem-
ber lst ought not TO have been called
by the supervisors, knowing that the
law had not been complied with in the
posting of petitions in several town.
ships. and although there is reason to
believe that the expense OF nearly
] So 900 thus laid on the county Is unDec-
essary. and also that nine TO nine does
not make majority, even though backed
| by the decision OF chairman, still we
90 into the fight, confident that the pres
ent law will be maintained and that
the majorities will be larger than ever,
| il only the friends of the law will in
| At such time as this, misreprescn-
tations are rife, deceiving even the best
| intentioned people. Sincere men are
the saloons will prove great relief,
and that the present law is unenforced,
and more liquor is consumed than there
would be under license. Each of these
positions can be clearly controverted.
The history of the saloon everywhere
proves it TO be not only an unmitigated
curse but an expense producer beyond
anything but lightning calculator to
keep pace with.
In the first place, our taxpayers need
only to do a little figuring, to prove
how insignificant the relief will be,
brought by license. According to the
law, half of each license fee goes to
the county and half to the corporation
in which the saloon is situated.
Supposing our county had fifteen
saloons. 1t would mean something
over seven thousand dollars to be
spread over the millions on the assess
ment rolls. 1t has been figured that
the relief in Lawrence township, for
example, would be about ten cents on
an assessment of one thousand dollars
worth of property. But the law would
have to be enforced for the open saloon,
as at present. That would half con-
sumo the income, and not only half,
but from all experience and records,
would take an amount far exceeding
any present expense for law enforce
ment. Allegan's cost for criminal cases
decreased thousand dollars a year
under local option in 1894 and 1895.
There were fewer cases on the docket
than in 1898, the year preceding
Prosecuting Attorney Fish has stated
within few weeks, over his signature,
that there is now over five times as
much drunkenness as in similar periods
under prohibition. We know how the
docket in Berrien is covered with Grim
NAL cases this term. Our county eX-
penses run the risk of being increased
| five fold under license.
An eX.supervisor of Van /Buren
county informed me Saturday, that the
expense for the poor had lessened 81, ,OOO
in the first years under our present
! law, and was still decreasing.
There is not as much liquor drank
now, nor as much disorder, all state
ments to the contrary Notwithstanding,
as in towns of like size in license
counties. We have had local option SO
long, that we forget or permit the evils
which do exist to blind our eyes to the
iniquities which would prevail with the
open saloon.
have room but for one more state
ment at this time. Every township in
Van Buren county is now organized
with our anti.saloon league. These
leagues mean business, and though we
can point with pride to 72 conviction:
in 10 cases In five years of prohibition
we pledge the citizens better enforce
ment of law than ever before, Vote Il
maintain the present law, and you will
see IA radical reform wherever reform
is possible.
AS to the Righteousness of our presen
system most good men are agreed. IL
vote for license it to oppose every bes
interest of our communities and homes
&. DEW. BROwER.
} South Haven, Oct. 4, 1897.