Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-07-06
The Local Option Question.
REPLY To "a. r." AND "B. r. G."

derful facility for shaping facts to suit hil
purpose. For example, in his article OF May
26th, he says:
"a letter appears in your issue OF May
18th, In which, In referring to q previous
communication signed A. R., it is said (by
mel, Fall 1t must for more absurd propo.
sition was never submitted people sup
posed to have two or more practical ideas,
The proposition referred to, stated briefly, is,
ii the sale OF liquor in the saloon Tor bever.
age is right 1t ought TO be encourag' d, IL It
Is wrong it ought 10 be prohibited. This
does not at first blush impress the average
and ordinary mind as being so extremely
absurd"
| II A. X. has such an impeachment in his
understanding or varacity as Is indicated by
the above statement, It would be we'll for
him not TO attempt again to "briet1Y" state
any ones position, but quote in full "if 1t
takes all summer" to do 30. What really
said In my article Of the 18th of May Was
this "a h. starts out with the following
proposition, Whether it 1.-THE local option
law can be fully enforced, or but partially
enforced, or not enforced at all, does not ap-
pear to me (him) to be material Upon
the soundness OF this proposition his argu.
ment must stand or fall. Fall it must for
q more absurd proposition was never sub
mittedto people supposed to have two or
more practical ideas"
don't think there is any one, from the
wisest sage TO the lowest imbecile in letters,
who can see the slightest resemblance of my
proposition above quoted To the one put 10
my mouth by A. H., and yet 1t is upon such
premises that he bases his arguments In that
article, il is therefore unnecessary TO con-
slider them 10 detail. aH
again repeat that 1t is absurd to retain
law which can mot be enforced a. all, !" and
which causes great and useless expense TO
the taxpayers.
1t seems very strange that the advocates
OF no change In the law will insist upon
trying TO put me In false position. l
therefore have to repeat that l am In no
sense the advocate or attorney OF the saloon
people, that have no interest in any man
ner, shape or form in the saloon business
or any one engaged in 1t, and that IL is i'm.
material TO me, personally, upon what line
the question is to be settled, whether II be
system which will secure actual prohibI'
ton, or a we'll regulated license or tax sys-
TEN, or the South Carolina Dispensary Law.
am simply engaged In pointing out the
defects OF our present law aud in submitting
facts in regard 10 the operations OF other
liquor laws, 80 that an Intelligent expires.
| sion OF the people may 0e had as 10 what ID
wanted Tor the future. Many regard the
present law as doomed, II 80, the new one "
take its place should be framed so as " Sc
cure the greatest public good as police
measure. There is no authority under our
Constitution 10 regulate or prohibit the
liquor traffic in any way except as police
measure. This authority should therefore
be exercised in good faith and entirely in
dependent Of the personal bias OF the saloon
keepers OF OF the political manipulators
of the Anti Saloon League. In fact these
two elements OF society are perennial nui
sances. No matter what grave Questions of
| State or National concern are before the
people, the sell interests of the one and the
| impotent opposition OF the other must be
Wedged In, through the high waymau tactics,
OF each, and made prime factors in the re-
suit, without accomplishing any good, but
perpetuating heavy and useless burden
upon the taxpayers. |, for one, would like
| TO see these unlsances abated by new law
oi aome kind and while do not think the
prohibition system Is founded upon sound
| governmental principles, | would prefer the
most rigid law of that character, which 1t is
possible Tor the mind OF man to conceive, TO
| the abortion We have 81 present. That Ques
ton however is one which should be sub
/ mitted 10 "A vote of the sovereign people Tor
an expression OF their wishes, and their
course should not be dictated BY me or any
l of the other parties 10 this public discussion.
| | hope this is all plain enough for the under
! atAudiDy Of the most simple minhed, aOd
I that w. will have 40 more misrepresentation
| in relation to ny position 10 future
IL is very strange how the interests of the
advocates OF the present liquor law and
those OF the liquor seller are shown TO be
Identical. A. Il. says that am emDarrass
ing the officers of the law In their efforts to
enforce il, while the saloon keepers are ask
ing that this agitation be stopped as II may
injure their business, and may cause, TEN
porarlly, more rlgld enforcement Vi tne
law. The advocates OF the present law want
TO retain it"whether 1t can be iully enforced,
or but partially enforced, or not enforced a.
all" while most Of the liquor dealers are op.
posed to a change, as they believe 1t would
cause them To pay high license or tax, and
make it possible 10 enforce the sunday law,
and otherwise restrict their business and
cut down their profits. II is thus apparent
that designedy or not the advocates OF the
present law are actually subscribing the In
terests of the LIQUOR men.
The sturdy yoemen of the county who
have no interests 10 the liquor traffic, but
who have the good sense 70 see the real
situation, who detest shams, farces and
frauds, who know that they are unjustlY bur
dened with taxes to sustain a vicious
aand profitless system, these are endorsing
nv course and urging me forward. In ad.
dtion 10 these there are many OF the best peo'
Die OF the county who have heretofore sus.
tsined the present law 10 the absence OF
something better, who are carefully follow
ling this discussion with view to informing
themselves as TO what is the best for the
future, regardless OF the wishes OF the liquor
men or the Anti Saloon League, and posi-
bly, some sensible and dlslnIerested mem.
bers Of the latter organization are DONG the
same thing. ,--.-
SO far as am concerned the llquor men
and those 70 whom lProhlDiuon 10 lau eau
Jointly or separately LOOK alter tneii OVID IN
terests. But trust the puDlic wiz Keep US
eyes open and see Just now they manage IT,
for 1t will certainly be as Interesting ana IN
structive proceeding as some o'nerS We nave
i al "a thfa