The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1902-10-25
HOME RULE ON THE LICENSE QUESTION

thods of dealing with the
liquor trahic-thc Prohibitivc
or No-Iicense System on the one hand,
or the restrictive or High License method
on the other. each of which methods has
Il large number of advocates equally sin
cerc in their desire to limit the evils of
intcmpcrnnce, it seems timely to consider
how the License Question is being con-
sidered in States. where Prohibition has
existed for years.
Naturally, we look to such States ms
Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont,
where the Prohibition sentiment has been
most prevalent for the best illustration
of its practical results.
In the first named State, the Prohibi-
tory Law is openly dctied. and the i'm
munity fee or Sheriff. Law system wide
ly prevails. The liquor seller pays to
the Sheriff of county. Il sum of money
equivalent to the amount Il license would
cost, for the privilege to sell III opcn vo-
lation of the existing prohibitory Law.
In Vermont. so ineffective has the en-
forccment of the Prohibitivc Amendment
to the State Constitution become. that
the Republicans in Convention. with an
overwhelming majority in the State, did
not dare to refuse their pledge to resub-
nit the question of its repeal to the
people.
In New Hampshire. influenced by the
example Of Maine and Vermont, and in
response to the same potent arguments
and existing conditions, the Republicans
largely dominant in the State. refused to
renew their adherence to the Prohibtory
Constitutional Amendment. adopted in
1870, and conceded, that essential
changes must be made in it. The radical
Prohibition element will resist these
changes, but all the conditions there,
show they are in Il small minority, and
that the constant and fragrant violations
of the law, have forced important modi-
ticatiOns of it.
The probability now is. that the Sys-
TEN adopted by Massachusetts, will also
find favor in other New England States.
This is nothing more or less. than the
time honored American principle of
Home Rule, applied to the License ques-
ton.
Each community, township, precinct
people, decides for itself the question of
License of No License.
In Pennsylvania. the control of the
public roads and the public schools, is
vested in the people composing town
ship, in Delaware by those composing
Hundreds" the New England idea be-
ing adopted successfully, as voicing the
wishes of the people composing them.
1t is patent to reflective people in those
States, as in Maryland, that while Il Pro-
hibitive Law may be enforced in small
communities, it fails Of enforcement in
larger ones.
The existing conditions in Cecil county
illustrate the same fact.
In possibly four districts of the county,
the Prohibition sentiment largely pre-
walls. Their population is composed of
whom are total abstaners. The resident
population is fixed there is neither pub
lie demand nor local necessity for the
public sale of liquors.
Why should licenses be put upon them
by the vote of Elkton, Port Deposit,
Perryville, or other localities of the
county where the opinions, habits and
occupations of a large proportion of their
citizens are different, and existing condi-
tons totally dissmilar.
And on the other hand, if the senti-
ment of those districts were in favor of
license, upon what ground of equity or
fairness, should the opinions of other
districts settle their local policy.
Evidently then, unless comparative
unanimity of sentiment prevails in all
the districts, the aggregate majority of
a county in deciding its License policy,
must work injustice to some of its COM
munities.
''Thc Whig' holds, that the best me-
thod, because the most equitable, is to
License to the voters of the county by
districts, the majority of qualified voters
in each, settling the question for the
district.
The method is simply the reaffirmation