Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1902-03-07
Temperance Legislation.


The following extracts are from the ar.
gument of Mr.. George H. Lamar before the
Montgomery delegation in the Legislature,
on February 20, in the interest of the pro-
posed amendment to the local option law:
| am not a member of the Anti Saloon
League and do not appear other than in my
individual capacity as citizen and Demo-
crat.
Being non. partisan question, the Demo.
| cratic party can best subserve its interests
by pursuing a course which shall comport
with good citizenship, the first principles OF
which are regard for law.
| 1t is almost universally recognized as
fact by thoughtful people that the interests
| Of society can best be subserved by reducing
to minimum the unnecessary consump-
ton by our people OF alcoholic stimulants.
About twenty years ago, by direct vote OF
the people, deliberate choice was made
between license and prohibition system Tor
our county. 1t goes without saying that the
people intended that the prohibition law
| should be enforced and that their choice OF
the system in itself involved authority TO its
| representatives to make such amendments
as might be required to perfect the law.
Experience has developed an anomalous
condition Of affairs. The law in its present
form Is not enforceable against those able TO
pay the fines which average to the indivd
usl liquor seller no more under the condi.
tons that have developed than the cost OF
any ordinary high license AS long as the
law is continuously and openly violated by
those able 10 pay the fines the American
spirit OF fair play renders 1t impracticable TO
get the law enforced against those who might
otherwise, under the present law, be pre-.
vented from doing business. Such an
amendment as that suggested would render
the law enforceable against the more prosper
GUS liquor dealers. When they stop BUSH
ness ii is believed that violations can be re-
duced to minimum. At any rate, the pro-
hihition system in perfected form can then
be given fair trial. II should not be judged
by the present defective law, the operations
Of which are productive of conditions re-
Quiring immediate attention at the hands of
those who realize the demoralizing effects
incident to a most universal disregard OF
law. Any political party which will
countenance such thing is doomed to de-
feat sooner or later. Personally, | have
never cut Democratic ticket, but the fact
that large number OF the best citizens OF
our county are doing so is sign of which
our party must take h ed.
1t is believed that this delegation is in
effect committed to perfection OF the pro-
hibition system. In the Democratic prima-
ries the issue was sharply raised as between
re.submission and the prohibition system.
The candidate who announced himself as in
favor oil re submission, though having many
elements of strength otherwise, was com
pletely defeated, while those OF you who did
not announce yourselves as In favor of re-
k..N Tod nll
standing in the county as law abiding clti-
zens as an evidence of what you could be
expected TO do when there should arise u
question of good citizenship, each one OF
you on such platform was successful 10
the primaries aud at the general election
The honor and fair name OF our county
demand that this legislature should provide
a means for the prevention Of laWles5ness
In our county. The present conditions are
satisfactory to the law-breakers and they
are unsatisfactory TO other law-abidIng cli
zens who understand the situation.
Should you see your way clear to comply
with the petitions OF twelve hundred voters
OF this county and perfect the prohibition sys-
TEN, that 1t may have fair trial before any
further appeal is made TO the people, it would |
relieve our county Of most acrimonious
and unpleasant fight upon subject about
which there has been and will be much |
feeling. But ii, on the contrary, you feel |
that the re submission platform on which |
you defeated Mr.. Henderson is the right |
one, then pray you to introduce the proper
measure for the submission and early vote |
of the people on two laws; one OF which |
shall constitute, when ratified, a perfected |
prohibition law, and the other such law |
as will meet the approval OF those who |
favor rigorous high license system. am
not afraid of the result
If, on the other hand, your delegation |
shall choose to do nothing on this important
matter then warn you that every allegi-
ton, false OF true, which is being made from
the house-tops by your political enemies,
with regard TO alleged promises made 10
whiskey men in the last campaign, will be |
given color; conditions in our county Will |
grow from bad TO worse and when 1t comes |
TO the next county election you will find |
that party ties will lose their binding force |
with an outraged people who are determln-
ed, il their sentiments are interpreted Alright,
that the scandals which have gone forth
relative 10 the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of law in
this county must stop and all aspersOns
upon the law abiding character OF Mont
gomery county must cease.
This Is q matter of conscience with me,
and the same is true, 1t is believed, with far
more men outside than inside of the Anti
Saloon League.
He who would be recreant to his sacred
trust TO the people OF this county by reason
Of any cause of complaint against this or
ganization, underestimate the deep seated
conviction which dominates the minds and
hearts OF people who would sacrifice their
lives for the fundamental principle OF their
party, If need be, but who do not propose
10 countenance a passive disregard for the
welfare OF their homes and the good name
OF their county.
thank you for your patient attention
and trust that you may see your way clear
~ 30 amend the present law as 10 render IL
enforceable against the strong az well as the
runak Tho rich % well a the nnnr