The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-30
THE SPLITTING NUISANCE.
As People viii Spit. Here is a Plan
for its Regulation.

EDITOR IAIRlDI HAl-ANA --Jii
Nov. 23rd, the following editorial
appeared in the indianapolis News
Wis:
1T is to be hoped that the ordi
name introduced in the council 70
prohibit public splitting will b
promptly passed into a law. The
Isubiect is not a pleasant one, but
there are many things unpleasant
that must be abolished il public
health is preserved as il ought To be.
and in recent days, when public
know ledge has been so greatly slim
ulated on this subject, there should
he encouragement Of every effort IN
this direction. The habit in ques-
ltion is a useless one; it l. not seen
in eastern cities or in European cit
lies. Ii is seen in western cities, and
in this city among western cities, al
IItimes and in places that make II an
lunmistakable abuse. The effort 70
'lstop it is right and worthy and ought
to be promptly seconded by enact
.nent Into law and enforcement OF
the law.
When | read the above ! thought
1.-The author of il needed enlighten-
ment on the Prohibition question,
Therefore | addressed the following
letter 10 him, which letter, ! am
sorry to say, he has never answered.
since YOU are one Of his near neigh
Ibors, | wish you would do me the
favor 20 call on him and find out
what Is the matter. Please see him
right away, for it may be that
he did not receive my letter, and il
ne did not am afraid he VIII do
something rash if he is not quickly
put on his guard. am afraid he.
he does not appreciate the serious
ness Of the question he Is dealing
with, and would not have him de-
ceived for anything. Ny letter.
was as follows;
PRINceToN, Ind, Nov "a, 1895.
EDITOR INDIANAPOLIS NEWS
Your editorial oil the 23rd instant,
in which you urge tn enactment OF
a proposed ordinance TO pronibitl
splitting on the sidewalks of Indian
apolis, comes as a great surprise to-
your readers here. Leaving out OF
the argument the fact that such an
ordinance would be gross violation
of the principle OF personal liberty,
d, you know that il could never be
enforced. Man is natural born
splitter. He mas spit since the days
of Adam, and he will cOntinne TO
,pit as long a. the world stands I
ii you undertake 70 prohibit him
from splitting, he will spit the more
As soon IS he finds out that YOU
are trying to dictate to him a TO
now To spit, his human nature will
assert itself and make him say,
= Now, I'll be burned it YOU do. Nj
and he will just spit all over you
he will spit on the sly, ana in out
of-the-way places. He will carry
his mouth full until yol are not
looking, and then he COB he will
make will be ten times worse than
II YOU had let him spit when he
wanted 10. h
The fact is, prohibition will not
prohibit, and the result will be;
Your city will be full Of hypocrites,
and your ordinance will be the
laughing stock of everybody. Ex-
perlence has proven that the best
way 10 prohibit thing i to license
1t. Make the license high enough, y
so that none but the better class ui
spitters can afford to spit. In our
city we believe we have found the
true remedy; and we manage it this s
way, viz: If the wouldbe splitter
is of good moral character, we issue :
a license 10 him for twelve months, |
for 500. He is then permitted to !
spit between the hours of six. a. m. !
and eleven p., m, in quantities not|a
exceeding a quart at time. Ii he =
spits during prohibited hours, or one
holidays, or on anyone under TWEEN
~ one years of age, or in places
where there j. too much spit al y
ready, he il subject to 3 fine, and ~
to the loss OF his license. Betweenli
eleven O'Clock p. m. and six o'clock :
a. m, he must keep his mouth
shut tight, throw his head back andIa
hang lantern on his chin, so every K
I ody can see he is not trying to spit. l
On Sunday he is Lot allowed to putle
tobacco, or any other spit maker
IN his mouth; and the only way he
can spit on that day is to spit through
"he Knows or out Of the back
his neck. Any housewife may, By,
written notice, forbid his spitlsng
on her doorstep at any time. ana
IL no disra carJu c,,ah ,.nt,,a ha',