Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-05-18
The Local Option Question.
INTERVIEW WITH A MINISTERIAL R AND
MR. oHoATE's ANSWER CONSIDERED.

Mr.. Editor IL ind many OF our best eli
zens are taking an intense interest IN the
local option discussion which has been go
ing on through your columns Tor several
weeks. Many of them have very valuable
ideas of their own in regard To the matter,
but for one reason or another do not care to
enter into the controversy as contributors to
the press. In order to have the questions,
at issue, thoroughly ventilated, will there
fore continue from time to time to present
such ideas Of others, pro and con, which
may come To my attention, as may seem to
throw light upon the subject.
A lew days ago | met u distinguished
minister OF the gospel of this county who
has been taking great interest in the discus
sion. He said: ii wish TO express my ad'
miration and approval Of your articles ON
the local option law, and " say that your
treatment Of the case is undoubtedly the
correct one. am a total abstainer. For
forty years | have preached, prayed and
sung total abstinence. | shall die holding
the same view. | was strongly in favor
of the law when il was first passed, at " hch
time many regarded il AS our rescue from
rum. My conclusions are entirely changed.
1t Is huge and shameless fraud. More
whiskey ia drunk than before the passage
VI tuC luWs uCptOiC viz laws eh"N "it "h
denable; but should welcome change
which would reduce the amount consumed,
and An entirely prottless taxation FIRST,
because meu who love drink Will have IL
till the Millennium SECOND. because the
present system ol espionage is teaching my
boys that the spy il an honorable character,
instead OF the sneak he has been accounted
through all ages. The managers OF the cru
SADIE get all the profit OF prosecutions, and
honest men foot the bills. The conduct OF
some people who strive from year to year to
prevent another vote upon the question Is
tyranny which should not be permitted in
republic However much | may deplore
the action OF the majority on some occasions,
am Baptist and believe in majority rule.
The local option law would be repealed II
there were chance To vote upon the ques
ton. Hundreds would now vote against IL
who voted for il. Men whose Christian
character has stood every test for many
year tell me 80. | rank with them. do
not, and should not, participate IN politics,
nor do think IL best Tor me 10 take part III
the discussion but believe the only means
of preventing the improper use OF inIoxi
cants is the renewal OF the human heart by
the Holy Spirit OF God. Puritan tyranny,
aided by sneaks, eau cause perjury, and re-
volt thousands against what we all wish
could be enforced; but that IL evil, and only
evil, and that continuously.
From the Information receive the list
Of persons paying the U y Internal heve-
nue. tax does not begin 10 REPRESENT the
total number engaged III the lqlOr u tllS
IN this county WhIskey is sold in stores
and other houses by many who pay no such
tax, aud in addition to these ! am advised
that there are many low characters who
come near church meetings and other pub
lie gatherings with jugs and bottles and
constitute veritable walking saloons where
young men and boys are debauched and
started on II downward course. Many peo-
pie purchase whskey IN large quantities,
outside the county, and lay up and swIll 1t
like beasts while IL lasts.
81 can verify what Judge Is. A. Harlan
has 80 well said about drunkenness aud
shocking conduct on the railroad trains.
There are certain trains which | always try
to avoid In returning from Washington on
that account. ! am thoroughly Disguised
with existing conditions and would wei
come u change. | cannot suggest y new
measure which would remedy or lessen the
evils, but sincerely trust that this discussion
which has been so we'll begun will develop
such one
"a RIP
Ia your issue of the 4th instant appears
something which will uo doubt prove 10 be
the raTest Syllogislic Exotic Ol the local OPP
ton discussion now in progress. IL was sign
cd "a. r." which initials are rs meaningless.
in an open discussion where the views oil
the people are requested, as the mere alb
straction which appears above them. A
more appropriate signature for such pro
duction would have been =. .. I. IL. |. y. L.
"A. Il" starts out with the following
"Whelher II (the local option
law) Can be fully enforced, or but partially |
enforced, or not enforced u I'LL. does not ap
pear TO me (him) 10 DE material" Upon the |
soundness OF this proposition his argument |
must stand or tall Fall 1t must for more |
absurd prop bsltion was never submitted 10
people supposed to have two or more prac
tlcal ideas.
The sale Of liquors for certain purposes
has been shown 10 be uDquestionably right,
for example It's sale for medical and sacra-
mental purposes and Tor use In the arts, &c.
The line is not sharply drawn 80 az 10 indi
cate to all minds Just where the moral right
To sell ceases aud the wrong begins We
can safely assume that the sale of liquors is
a mixed question OF right and wrong. But
il this be true the entire argument of "A. r."
ceases To be applicable TO the case and there
fore fails. But let us assume the sale OF
liquors 10 be absolutely wrong" IA. Il"
admits that we can "load IL down with
restrictive license system that would put the
business at disadvantage with any other
legitimate business" II this be true is il
not better AZ y police measure to 80 load II
down" in order that tho community will
not receive the lull force OF It's evil influence
than 10 have law which can not b. zen
forced at ALL" a. suggested by him. But
suppose, for the sake of argument, the sale
Of liquor 10 be absolutely wrong" AMI that
you could not load II down" with such
restrictive license system" "a would de
crease It's bad effects, would IL not be al
vlsable 10 have such system and collect
tax or license from the traffic and thereby |
tighten the "kQdd" Of the taxpayers who have
10 sustain the government under which such
things existY
CHoATEl
Ia my communication OF the 4th instant |
will be found the following
10 this connection, desire 10 ask Nv
c." "A few questions. He Is at the head Of
the Anti Saloon League, has taken u very
active part In prosecutions for the violations |
Of the local option law, being with others |
charged with that duty by said anizatiOn,
aud perhaps handling ia funds u be used
Tor that purpose.
q Has he received directly or indirectly
from any person Qr persons known, or sop
posed by him 10 be engaged ia the whiskey
business, any money, gilt, present or other !
thing Of valueY u Has he been less Vig I
liant 10 his efforts " indlct and prosecute |
one or more men engaged 10 the whiskey |
business than OthersS 81 Has he ever said |
10 one or more men engaged In said bust
ness that he was not alter him or them but |
wanted To break up Others, or words 10 that
effecti al Has he not in conversation with |
certain person or persons commented the !
liberality or generosity towards himself Of |
one or more men known or supposed by |