Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-06-15
High License in Prince Georges
County.
W. II. LAMAR


Mr.. Editor; In your issue of June 9Th
correspondent, "B. r. g." says:
I'VE are here reminded of corporation
that had spent considerable amount 10
public improvements, until II was found To
be considerably in debt, with very scanty
resources, and while they were looking
about, devising ways and means TO meet
their demands, bright Young man, a slick,
good talker, a newcomer to the place, "a
squatter," as he was called, one without
financial means, one who was seeking for.
tune, one who had all to gain, nothing to
lose, suggested saloon, 4 high license sa
loon, the boon oi those who desire 10 pull
the skin over the eyes of the unwary and
hide the iniquities Of the saloon under dol
lara and Cents
The slick, smart young man talked the mat
ter up, got some men OF means interested,
urged that men would drink, and why not
lot the town receive some benefitp Even
some good, strict church members were won
over, and at length the license was issued,
the saloon opened and patrons began to
come in. Young men, middle aged and old
ones, and ere long every state and condition
was represented, and soon rowdyism and
drunkenness began. Rainy and important
days brought the country people in, police
officers were soon necessary TO keep the
peace, a jail was soon necessary, police
court had to be provided for, and soon the
license lee was gone. But the saloon was
still there doing Its deadly work fights and
brawls became common; young men were
debauched, employees demoralized, and final
ly a foul murder was committed, two prom.
inent young men being the principals, who
huA haan lad hu thio h.nh
loon into undesirable associations and bad
habits. A long, tedious, costly trial fol
lowed, a conviction was the result and the
culprt went to his doom, leaving the town
hopelessly in debt"
This Is q pretty story interesting aud inn
proving, II true. 1t is easy To locate the
story 10 Prince Georges county. The village
of Hyattsvile or Bladensburg Is meant, but
not both The strange history is made by
mixing the two towns up, in true Pinafore
style. b. Il. G.-if he is not myth-like
the story he tells with such unction-has
been duped, probably by some professional
inlormer such as are bred by the anti saloon
leagues. These creatures create facts out OF
vivid imaginations-sure that they will be
accepted by the unwary for tue sake ol con
cluslOns that may be drawn from them.
There never was u corporation "that had
never had u saloon" but plenty of debts;
no "bright young man, u slick talker, new
conner, q sQuatter, without means, seeking
fortune, who had all to gain, nothing 10
lose" did not exist; never pulled any Skin
over the unwary," Ia any town OF Mary
land never induced" prohibition town
to get out of debt by high license; never
succeeded Ia looling church members TO re-
sort 10 high license TO benefit towns tinan
ces; no saloon was opened by such means
10 any county, no murder resulted 10 point
a moral or adorn u tale. As Betsy Prigg
said TO Salrey Camp; There never wasn't
no SIGH person"
HyattsVile Is a no license town with
big debt-largely founded by a Washington
whiskey man. 1t has u lock up, a police
man, a justice of the peace, and big debt.
Its population is largely squatter one, and
IL wants more Many Of Its new Inhabitants
come from Maine and brought the Maine
pr ohibtion law along with them. Such
ideas are not indigenous: TO Maryland
Bladensburg is u corporation over hun
dred years old. II has always had saloons
enough and To spare. Most OF those now
there would cease To exist II they were not
sustained by customers from its prohibition
neighbors. These have only TO cross the
bridge or an imaginary line from the heaven
of prohibition to the hell Of license. They
come continually to stake nip" or Ill up.
1t has lookup, a policeman, a justice, bat
no debt
The murder of which Is. II. q speaks
took place some years ago, but II was not
produced by change from no license 10
high license. IL is strange that Is. X. It..
should go $50 far afled" Tor his horrible ex
ample when he had recent one at his own
door, one that occurred, according 70 the
Washington newspapers, through the sale
OF whiskey, and drunk in Potomac district
Of your prohibition county.
Il. X. G.'s Ignorance Of existing condi-
tons in his own neighborhood is only
equalled by his msinl0rmatiOn rs u what
happens abroad. Between his home and the
District line 10 Bethesda and Potomac dis
tricts, as published recently, there are 10
persons licensed by U. s. Revenue officers
to sell intoxicants, and from all accounts
they do thriving business week days and
Sundays.
These facts will not be interesting 10 Ii
X. q. and the League, because they cannot
be reGited in support Of hobby al sunday
School pic-nics and sewing circles by agitat
cd cranks " agitate others. They are only
facts, and therefore are not exciting. But
judge the intelligent and lair minded people
Of Montgomery county are Interested In
them, and that they will act accordingly
when the time comes 10 act
Very respectfully,
JAMES q. THOMPSON
=. ST. have lived both at Hyattsville
and Rockville, and am somewhat familiar
with conditions In both Prince Georges and
Montgomery counties. am interested In
la. linz
and hope that wise choice will be made In
dealing with the subject.
school Matters AT a meeting of the