Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-07-12
County Option on the Liquor Question.

paid into the village treasury came
from the people within the village
who had right to vote, but probably
80 per cent of it was paid by the peo-
pie OF the four adjoining townships.
Thus in this indirect way, the people
OF the townships were taxed for public
improvements and reduction of taxes
within the village, while they we're not
given the privilege of representation
when the system was voted in. It is
taxation without representation
over which system our forefathers
wrote with living blood, "Tyranny.
Again, as the system now is, the peo-
pie OF the villages vote in saloon and
reap the exclusive benefit (?) of the IL
cense money paid into the village
treasury, while the people throughout
the county are taxed to care for the
paupers, to prosecute criminals, and
to commit insane patients produced
ny this very system. While the peo-
pie of the villages make public i'm
provements and lessen their taxes by
the license money, the people through
out the county are paying their dear
taxes to build prisons, to maintain
courts, and to establish insane asy-
lums in order that the legitimate pro-
ducts of this system might be properly
cared for. Thus we see that it is DOS
sible, under the license law as it now
is, for 26 persons to vote in system
OF taxation that affects every taxpayer
within the county. Hence we say it is
unjust. Would it not be more equita-
BILE and proper that all the people in
the county should have a right to vote
whether such a system should be es-
tablished within the county?
But aside from the taxation argu-
ment in favor of county option, I
would say, that there is a weightier
ground. The saloon is an institution
whose influence is apt to affect the
happiness and welfare of every indi-
vidual, every home, every community
within the county. 1t is therefore q
just proposition that the legal voters,
representing every home in the county
should have the privilege to say by-
their votes whether such an institution
should be planted within the borders
OF the county. We profess to believe
in just government, in equitable
laws, and in the exercise of the fran.
chise by the greatest number of the
people. 1t matters not whether we are
in favor OF or against the saloons. az
matter of fairness and Justice, we
should be willing to leave this license
question to the people of the county
We argue that the power of electipp
U. $. senator's should be taken awav
from the legislature and given the
people at large, in order to avoid
corruption. The same principle ia in.
Volved in this matter. 1t is no faucied
theory that very often few imported
voters control village elections. I'm
der comfy option, this practice would
practically be stopped. Other grounds
might be given, but we will stop for
the present suhiceth to say, that the
plank adopted by the state convantion
OF the peoples party in favor of county
option, is one based upon years Of
agitation, responsive to a ripe and
just sentiment On the part. of a larpa,:
portion of the better class of %peonla
in this great North Star State, and !.
one calculated to deal Justly with al.
and harshly with none. s$}s. 71.s=
=. =. ...s n. T, MoEN. ID
KILL. Ada, MINI. July s, 1902,