Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-20
WITHOUT GLOVES.
License or No-License Discussed
by Spencer Paper.
Calls Things by Their Right Names and
Quotes Facts and Figures
Other Notes.


place OF the usual greetings, they eX-
change the query, Glow are you going to
vote?' The hotel offices are the scenes of
warm debates, Anticipated arguments are
brought up to the altar Of discussion and
slaughtered, and the unprecedented inter-
est that is taken in the matter is the re-
suit of Communication in Thursdays is
sue of the Spencer Sun. This is the
first time the license question has been
fairly and squarely presented to the
voters, shorn of it's one-sided arguments,
and appeals to individual interests. The
communication is substantially as followsi
Who carries Spencer for no-ltcense?
The illegal rum-sellers, the druggists and
the upright no-license advocates keep
Spencer in the no-license column. Spen-
Ger would go license every year If it
We're not for the fact that the contempti-
bic rascals who do a flourishing business
on Chestnut street and in the vicinity al
ways vote no. In order to insure a contin-
uation of their illegal traffic.
WHO is to blame for Illegal liquor sell
ing under no-license? The Law and Order
League. Nothing can be said against the
Individual standing- of the members of this
organization, but collectively they amount
TO nothing, 50 far as suppressing the le-
gal sale of liquor is concerned. Before rhA
vote was taken last year some of une
league members addressed the voters and
urged them to vote no. They promised to
stop Illegal selling If the voters would
down license. Have they kept their prom
Use? Hardly; when Chestnut street, from
one end to the other, is a nest of dives.
The league is responsible for this shame
less state of affairs, because 1t is in exist
ence for the purpose of making careful in
Vestigation and complaints.
why are the liquor laws not enforced?
An answer to this question from members
OF the Law and Order League is not only
required, but demanded by every Ameri-
can citizen in Spencer.
why should the druggists sell without
a license and not be prosecuted? The
druggists vote no-llcense to protect them
selves, and then the authorities allow
them to sell to repay them for their dis
interestedness in helping to carry the town
against license. Lucky druggists! Why
do the Illegal sellers vote for no-license?
So they won't have to pay for a license.
They don't care to go Into their pockets
ana pay Tor the privilege OF selling rum
when they can sell as much or more with
out license. This applies to Spencer, to
the disgrace of every no-license advocate
and voter who lives here. Why is liquor
sold in Spencer's representative hotel? Be
cause the owners permit it.
rs it better to have liquor sold in eight
places or twenty-five? The no-license .peo-
pie will say that more liquor would be
sold in eight licensed places than in TWEEN
ty-five dives, but this is not admitted by
any sound, fair-minded man. If a man
drinks in a licensed place he does so mod
erately, with due regard for social stand
ing, whereas in a dive he drinks all he
can, because he may not have another
chance.
us the police force efficient? No. Here
and there among the local constables is
found man fitted for the position, and
intent on carrying out its duties and re-
sponsbllities, but taken as a unit the force
lacks the energy and 'go-aheadishness'
which are necessary in men to whom is
intrusted the welfare and protection of the
community. Are the police bought off by
the Illegal liquor sellers? In all prob
come about that liquor is sold in so many
places, when an arrest and conviction
would result to the financial benefit of the
officer or officers making the raid? Would
not the best solution of the problem be to
provide license and a paid police force?
Yes. ~ has been demonstrated that the
selling under no-license, and the consen-
sus of opinion is that the present police
service does not tend to improve the
morality of Spencer to any extent"
These questions and answers have APP
pealed TO the citizens of Spencer, as the
truth Of the statements cannot be doubted.
In answer to the question, 'Who is to
blame for Illegal liquor selling under no.
license?" some lay the blame on the Sc
lectmen instead Of the Law and Order
The selectmen deposited with the Law
and Order League over $500 shortly after
last town meeting TO assist in enforcing
the law. The league has not as yet sent
bill to the selectmen, and therefore the
money has not been used for the purpose
Of suppressing, the illegal sale of tiquor.
selectmen had left in the vicinity of $3.50.
OF this sum they have used over $500. This
would go to show that the league has been
more amiss in its duty than the select
men. The selectmen, no doubt with the
best of intentions, decided last year not to
pay the officers 25 cents an hour when on
$25 in case of Conviction. Since then the
arrests have materially decreased in num-
Der. Some think 1t was the duty of the
Law and Order League to appear before
the selectmen at the time and urge them
not to make this change; at any rate
not to make this change; at any rate
useless, as they now have no incentive to
perform their duties. An illegal liquor
Keller in Spencer would prefer to be
caught in the act by a constable rather
thing. is covered in this statement. The
Illegal sellers carry Spencer for no-license,
and the Law and Order League, the select
men and the officers permit the illegal
selling so the town win vote no.
The agitation has but as yet begun, and
1t is expected some interesting develop
ments Will be made before town meeting.
Spencer's greatest need is paid police
force. The experiment was tried several
years ago, but the officers salaries were
too small to insure good results. If a
be corrupted by the illegal sellers where
as If he receives $500 or $4,000 the chances
are that he would be beyond bride tax
Under license, so its advocates claim.
the money received for licenses, perhaps
$4,000 could be devoted in part toward this
end.
ELECTION DAY OFFICERS
The selectmen appointed the following
election officers today: Ballot clerks, NJ
C. King, w. w. Woodbury.; assistant
ballot clerks, E. d. Marchesseault, r. o.
Holden; tellers. James Holmes, W. H.
Mcdonnell. Alfred Arseneault, H, P.
Morse Lewis Ingraham, r. A. Casey,
Moreau, Frank Collette, Jr., Frank NJ
Hale and e. Harris Rowland
MANY TIMELY TOPICS.
Fields NJ. Prouty sent $40.52 to the New
England headquarters of the Cuban relief
fund yesterday, subscribed by Spencer cit
izens.
The Womans Christian Temperance
Union met yesterday, and voted to hold an
Easter sale. The committee appointed to
arrange for the sale is Mrs. Sarah NJ.
Bliss, Mrs. w. H. Prentice and Mrs. e.
r.. Stone.
Measurements Of Shaw pond. taken yes
terday by Water Commissioner Dexter
inches of water in the pond.
Members of the Spencer Grange will dis
cuss these I topics Il at :. Tuesday evening s
States to acquire more territory?" why
should a farmer spend his evenings diff
ferent, from any other sensible man, and
why should he read differently?'
A. o. H.. Division 5, of Spencer, has re-
ceived word from Division II, A. o. H., of
Brookfeld, saying that the Brookfield or
ganization Will join in the field day meet
Ing at Myrick Park, Memorial day The
field day committee of the local division is
Thomas A. Casey, George H. Kramer, John
Carney, Timothy Howard and Martin H.
George w. BickneI, D. D., of Cambridge
will give his LECTURE, Illustrated by the
etereopticon, entitled ''Down in Dixie. in
camp, on the march and under fire." at
town hall, Wednesday evening. March 80.
The speaker is, engaged by the Y. p c.
Tyofxr let