Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-04-04
LOCAL OPTION.
L. AZ Conducive to Good Government
give this "A Careful Reading.

While the question of local option was
being discussed by the public, pro and
con. more or less has appeared III the
papers OF the county "a 10 the advisa-
bility of its being or not being adopted
by the people at the coming election
With this in view il is not unbecoming
for any and all TO express Their peilel
upon the question "a To whether local
ontion is or is not conducive to good
government. Ii is the right OF every
American citizen TO discuss public ques-
tions and give his views and his reasons
for his belief with view OF leading the
public TO acGuisce with him, provided he
acts for an honest purpose and Win
view of doing the greatest good to the
greatest number OF people.
The question of local option is soon 10
be passed upon by the intelligent people |
of this county, and upon this question IL
becomes the duty that every voter shOulu
register his approval or dlsapprONal
upon this question. Ii Is my beliel that
however a man may vote at the polls he
will do so with All honest conviction
that he is doing the right thing. III
man has reasons which lead To loglcal
conclusions he is justified III ms ACTION
though il may not coincide Win the pe-
lief OF others. Local option, III the CON-
mon acceptance of the WORD, means lhe
prohibition OF the sale oil Intoxicating
iionors within the bounds OF the terri
tory prescribed except for medicinal,
mechanical and scientific purposes
Now if il were true that local option
: would bring about this result no one
would contend for "A moment hut lhal
il became and was the duty OF every law
abiding citizen 10 place his shoulder 10
. the wheel and see that local option pre-
vailed. But. If on the other hand, local
opti0n does not mean TINS, Oul can pe
{ shown IN establish "A far more degrading
situation than cOnfrOnts the people
under high license. making great
. number of diSreputable resorts LOT the
d younp and rising generation, putting no
curtaIl upon the appetite OF the 0ld
u veteran for strong drink deprNlng the
" public of the revenues coming lIltie-
y from and making the whole SITUATION
more deplorable and less desirable 'heu
u heronps the duty Of every law add
inc citizen 10 use his force and power
, Ia establish that condition of affairs
= which surrounds the people both young
y and old with the greatest amount oil
protection. Something like ten years
400 the question of local option was
D. voted upon and carried 10y the people OF
D Gratiot county. That law, so Tar as the
statute books were concerned, was en-
forced for period Of about six months
- ar until such time as the supreme
- court of the state of Michigan declared
- the election null and void 10y reason OIL
I'm defects i'm the action of the board oil
at supervisors. During the time that la"
y, was i'm vogue in this county | was q
- resident here and had great deal To at
with other citizens III ascertalhihe
- whether or not the law was what nat
ct been claimed for il; III other WORDS
IL whether or not ii was the practical all
Inhalation OF the liquor trafhc, ana All
49, able 10 say. from personal Observation
Igs that there was more liquor sold III TN
county of Gratiot during that time thar
there ever was or has been during tn
. same period under high license, and TN
lar fact is not due To lack of prosecution
hnt because of the inability OF anyone I
ascertain the persons who are NlOlatlh
. the law. There are, ] am INFORMED
lar twenty-three saloons in the county pay
tn ing license amounting 10 eleven tnOu'
and five hundred dollars, one-halt
which goes into the county sinking fun
and assists in paving the taxes of IN
sat county at large. Now, 10 take this ava.
4tt deprive the county OF that much la
which. of course, would be mere noti
ing if the object sought 10y local optiO
. could be carried to effect, and establish
ieel hell in every alley, celler. out OF u
the way place and hooks and corner
of all descriptions. and suoJe'
y. the young and unsophistlcaleu
. the temptations Of those 80 unscrupu
doe ons "a 10 conduct such "A business,
ngs bringing about such condition
affairs as is entirely undesirable. and
:. becomes the duty OF every citizen
. avoid this if possible. Some will sd
Tent that il is mere folly TO contemplate III
'day condition. but if history repeats ltse
i'm GratiOt county or the history OF Otll
counties or states where local Optic
prevails is To be repeated In bratl
county under local option, then IN
'er' picture is not overdrawn but states on
The true situation. Under high licen
the saloon is guarded with the ylgila
- eve of the law; they are restricted
l. u certain opening and closing hours.
minor under the age OF twenty-o
wears is permitted therein; no pers
- intoxicated o. in the habit OF gettil
y - intoxicated Is peTulltltu w Rtt hHuoi
these places and legal holidays are TO
observed. We are aware of the fact u
- this law is not entirely lived up to but
liter violated the law provides for the punt;
of p ment OF the offender. IL your son
tains liquor al a saloon the saloonkeep
X may be prosecuted and he haseh
- means of hiding by saying that
regu doesn't run saloon, his license hal
eulin upon the wall and appears as with
nth a. against him. Ii persons in the habit
8. getting intoxicated gets liquor there a
their families suffer for the means
, No support, the law gives you rlght
sday action whereby you may collect all oil
damages sustained and in this you
- protected not only by the law but by,
bonds given by the saloon keeper VIII
- must be good in order to permit hin
- engage ia the business. In other We
~ everyone who engages in the BUSH
IT, under high license must be respOls
Fnr LiS nets before he can engage III