Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-05-25
A. RS Reply.

Mr.. Editor "A letter appears in your
issue of May 18th. in which, in referring to
q previous communication signed A, r., 1t
is said: "Fall 1t must for a more absurd
proposition was never submitted to people
supposed TO have two or more practical
IDEAS"
The proposition referred to stated in sub
stance and briefly is, If the sale of liquor in
the saloon for beverage is right it ought to
be encouraged, If 1t is wrong 1t ought to be
prohibited. This does not at first blush, at
least impress the average and ordinary mind
as being so extremely absurd.
The writer of that letter Is apparently
having much difficulty In reaching con,
cluslon as to the moral turpltude involved in
the sale of liquor in the saloon for beverage.
He appears to be unable to exactly locate
the line of demarcation between the right
and wrong of this business. just where the
right leaves off and the wrong begins is not
so clear to his mind, and in this mystitied
state he reaches the conclusion that 1t is
mSred question OF right and aor0It9. Indeed
1t may be so badly mixed as to render 1t ut
terly impossible to separate the good from
the bad.
II this be true what is our duty In the
premises Should We tolerate the evil to get
the benefit of the good, or should we abandon
the virtue that may be extracted from 1t to
avoid the vice? 1t is submitted that proper
consideration for the welfare of our fellow.
man would suggest the latter course.
Again it is said "But let US assume the
sale of liquors to be absolutely wrong. A.
X. admits that we can load il down with a
restrictive license system that would put the
business at u disadvantage with any other
legitimate business"
A. X. very sincerely regrets that he was
so unhappy In his selection of Language as
to make the impression above recorded upon
the mind OF that letter writer, and he truly
hopes that he was more successful with the
other readers of the Sentinel.
A. Il. said: "If the sale of liquor is bene-
ticial," mot absolutely wrong) ITO the peo-
pie OF this county, it would be an unpar-
donable injustice to load 1t down with re.
strictive license system that would put the
business at disadvantage with any other
legitimate mercantile business"
Does the writer of that letter desire TO
controvert this proposition Is he willing
TO put himself on record as opposing a bene-
fetal and Legitimate business by advocat
ing legislation that unjustly discrimlnates
against it
Let US meet this question fairly and
squarely. II the writer Of that letter hon
estly believes that the selling OF liquor IN
the saloon is right, let him have the courage
OF his convictions and assert It, and let him
give the reasons for the faith that is In him
Ii on the other hand he believes 1t 10 be
wrong let him say 80.
In our humble Judgment all advocates of
licensed saloons should take no uncertain
stand upon this question, but should base
their advocacy upon the ground that the
open licensed saloon is a useful adjunct TO
society that IL tends TO promote the wealth,
morals and intellect of the community, and
that the keepers thereof are engaged 10 a
righteous business.
1t is, TO say the least an injustice TO the
cause they espouse to evade the discussion
OF its character by disclaiming knowledge
thereof, and putting their claim in favor OF
its existence upon the assumed fact that II
cannot be gotten rid Of. II that Is all, why
not all hands give long pull, a strong pull
and pull altogether, ana see IL Its power
cannot be considerably curtailed, at least.
The writer of that letter, after saying that
If II be true that 1t should not be loaded
down with restrictive license system" ETC.,
asks is IL not better to load it down as
police measure in order that the community
will not receive the full force OF its evil in
huence?
1t will be remembered that A. X. did not
want 1t loaded down if It was good busi.
ness-may he modestly inquire how good
business could be lraught with evil inf1uencef
Can good be born of evil or evil OF goodP
The writer OF that letter states that II II Is
absolutely wrong" II would be better to
load 1t down with a license system that
would decrease its bad effects, and also
thereby collect tax that would lessen the
LOGd OF the taxpayers.
The letter writer's desire to lessen the
burden OF taxation IL certainly laudabe.
Taxes at best are onerous. But there are
some things that are worse than taxes
Crime, poverty and wretchedness are among
that number. What would be the result OF
adopting license system for all things that
are absolutely wrong? II the writer OF that
letter has an abiding conviction that 1t would
be better to license the liquor business,
though 1t be conceded absolutely wrong,
and that such license tends to lessen It's
evils, why would not the license system
have similar effect upon every other abso-
lutte wrongp 1t Is true that wrong differs In
degree, but the cure for the lesser evil would
surely help cure the greater evil then why
not license anything that is absolutely
wrOngY
That remedy should be sought that will
afford the best relief, and II the license sys-
ten Is the most efiicatious remedy for crime,
1t Is the system that undoubtedly should be
adopted. Murders are committed every day.
II licensing crime lessons IL why not license
murder2 In this way not only would the
evils Of this most heinous crime be lessened,
but the Load on the taxpayers would be
lIghtened in proportion 70 the license col
lected, and il occurs TO me that this license
should be quite high.
This is the legitimate conclusion OF the
argument OF the writer OF that letter, absurd
az II may appear. But where does he OBJ
tain his evidence that license system would
lessen the evil Of the liquor tratficf In all Of
his very lengthy communications, In which
he has discussed this question, he has never
referred 10 State, county, city or town
where license system has been attended
with such result.
He has given interviews with citizens OF
this county upon the effect OF the present
law. / will follow his example TO limited
extent. One Of the most prominent and re
spected ctiZens OF this town, a man who
doubtless takes social glass and enjoys II,
and man who took occasion 10 express
himself as not being in sympathy with the
"extreme temperance people," man who
has lived In Rockville very much longer than
the writer Of that letter, and hence knows
whereof he speaks. This man said "
never want to go back 10 the conditions that
existed here before the local option law was
passed" Others, some W the manor born"
can testify that under the license law, when
II was in force in this county, there were
times wnen IL was unsafe Tor lady 70 APP
pear on the streets Of Rockville.
The hnrninp nnpatiOn for the neODle of this