Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-04-27
The Temperance Question.


Editor Sentinel:
have lived in Montgomery county five
years, and have been making use of my Cd
portunities to observe the operations of the
"local option" law. have spent almost ev
cry day OF the last nineteen years in the city
of Washington, and have witnessed the re
suits of legislation and municipal police
regulation" there. held judicial positions
In Western State from July /, 1859, until
January /, 1877, and had opportunities and
some experience there. For many years |
was "Good Templar" and a Prohbitionist,
until the organization OF the "Prohibition
Party" and the dogmatic intolerance of the
| LEADERS" and some OF the FOLLOWERS" sep
arated me from associations no longer agree
able to my sentiments and judgment.
have never renowned my temperance
principles or lost my respect for honest,
consistent, reasonable friends and advocates
of temperance, or even of legal prohibition,
but have seen great deal of foolishness,
perhaps l should say unwsdom, among ar
dent, Incorporating or unyielding advo
Gates Of prohibition, and such people to my
certain knowledge, have alienated and driven
away very many men whose influence and
efforts might have been secured. Driven
away many and kept daody many more. l
once engaged in "joint debate" with a can.
didate for Vice. President of the United
States, upon the Prohibition ticket-one of
the founders of that parly-who became en-
ragged at me because | refused to abandon
my own party and unite with his, upon the
zone idea" Of prohibition, and he declared,
In the presence OF great audience, to my
face, that no man could differ from him, In
opinion, and be honest OF course there was
no use in trying to discuss Questions" with
him, he would not admit that there could be
a "question"-he was absolutely right and
in fallible, from his standpoint.
My attention has lately been invited to the
discussion, in an open, free, fair minded way,
and able manner, by Major Lamar and 9th
ers, In your columns, and have given way
to an inclination to stake hand" in the
same.
We all know that "local option" in this
county has been In great measure "a failure"
| take very little stock in the talk about
"sumptuary" laws or legislation. There is
no doubt as to the right and power of Leg
isatures to prohibit the sale or possession of
dangerous and offensive things, as for in
stance the sale OF poisons, OF cigarettes, car
rying concealed weapons, &c, &c but no
law will enforce itself.
Laws have been passed and enforced al
most everywhere in this country, prohibit
ards, mentally incompetent persons and
minors, also within certain limits, near sol
diers' homes, schools, churches and other
institutions sustained by common consent.
Local municipal police regulation is all
right, but circumstances and conditions com.
pei consideration.
In remote counties and districts things
may be prohibited that cannot be in Mont.
gomery county.
Certain "road houses" and the hotels have
for years and years made "a laughing stock"
OF the law in this county. Many people
have wondered how it could be that the
thirsty excursionst could get lull satslac.
ton "openly and aboveboard" at one place,
and mary drap" on the same day at an
other.
Now see it has actually been proposed
10 grant a" license" to one place to sell liquor
I'D t6itum in this local option county. Why
show such partialityp Why thus offend the
good citizens who are entitled TO equal
rights" in other localities and those other
equally good citizens who have honest, con-
scientiOus scruples against "licenslng" any
body TO do wrongp This latter class is
large one.
II seems to me il IS high time we came to
the conclusion that there is no use in trying
TO keep men from drinking liquor or from
bringing 1t into our county or selling 1t here,
By lao.
II the Legislature of Maryland, in its wis
dom, would enact a tax law ana provide
that every party selling liquor in this coun
ty, as a beverage, should pay a tax OF $400
per annum, more or less, the proceeds or
some portion thereof TO be devoted to public
education, the support of the poor or other
objects pro bono pubtGco, imposing severe
penalties for failure 10 pay the tax, then the
"scruples" Of the anti license people could
| be avoided to some extent anyhow, aud
much money now wasted in Washington
would not go out OF the county, the tax
payers would feel the effect Immediately, the
county officers would receive and enjoy
more respect, legal prosecutions and county
expenses would be reduced and in my hum
BILE opinion there would be less, far less,
drunkenness in the county, especially on
railroad trains, than we see now. | have
seen more disorderly conduct and drunken
rowiyism in one day on the b. 80 o. Rail
road, between Rockville and Washington,
than have seen in the latter city in year
The sale Of intoxicating beverages to ir-
responsible persons can be prohibited, pro-
vision can be made for appointment of guard.
ians for habitual drunkards and spendthrifts.
Dangerous persons can be sent 10 asyums
or compelled TO give bonds TO "keep the
peace"-in short, we can take care of our.
selves.
II public sentiment were strong enough
TO completely restrain men from selling or
drinking or doing evil-violating law-ii
the demand could not exist the supply would
not The demand brings the supply.
The forces OF evil are united, firmly knit
and bound together. The good people are
not united, there " not that harmony, 60.
operation aud concert OF action necessary to
success. Efforts should be made TO bring 1t
about II can hardly be expected without
compromises. They should "pool their Is
sues" and consult their own interests
"Hali a LOAF Is better than no bread" The
man who places himself upon pinnacle and
demands that all men shall see the promised
land from his standpoint Is impracticable
and always in hopeless minority
B. A. HARLAN.
Washington Grove, April 10, 1900.