Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1903-12-17
AS HE VIEWS IT
Farmer stacy Brown Writes Abou,
the Temperance Issue.

Prohibition In this state 10 imprati-
cal. the present system 10 being applied
practically.
The above sentiment 10 quoted from
letter / received last winter from q
prominent Republican lawyer of Ionia.
That "the present system" has been
thoroughly and fairly tried In this
county no one will deny. 1t has been
In operation with friendly officers to
enforce IL ever since can remember,
just here 1t may he we'll to quote q few
words from Judge Grant, also Repub-
lican lawyer: II want to tell you right
here that the next time an officer says
1t is not his business to make complaint
and tells you that II you will sign the
complaint he will set the machinery
of the law In motion, that you can as
sure him 1t 10 not the duty OF any pri-
vate citizen to do this. 1t Is not safe
for any private citizen to attack three
kinds of law breakers-keepers OF
prostitution, gamblers and liquor deal
ers who sell unlawfully. But they dare
not assault the officer because he repre-
SCENTS the majesty OF the law
understand our Prosecuting Attor.
ney agrees with Judge Grant.
Now to illustrate the practical way
in which the present system is being
applied, let me quote from few of
our county papers which appase pro-
hibition:
The present laws are sufficient If en-
forced, Portland Review, Jan. 20, '03.
"When they" (Prohibitionists) have
the courage of their convictions to
band together and secure the enfore-
ment OF the present liquor laws, they
will be forced out OF existence" Muir
Tribune, Jan. Is, 'O3. 1--WE have but
too saloons, and they are run as near
within the law as saloons can be run.
Ever since we have been resident OF
Ionia county there has been illegal sell
ling of liquor and "blind pigs" In the
village. 1t is generally known they
have not been prosecuted, we have
laws today which make illegal liquor
selling a crime, but they are not en-
forced, and under q local option re-
gime who would see that they are en-
forcedp" Lake Odessa Wave, Jan. 20,
1908. Remove the screen and make
them obey the law to the letter and the
evil will be reduced to minimum.
Ionia Sentinel, Nov. s, 1908. "Whe4
II has been demonstrated, rs 1t has In
Ionia county, that public sentiment
will not enforce license law, how on
earth can It be expected that the same
conditions will enforce prohibition
lawY' Recent editorial In Bedding
Star. These editors are nearly all
Republicans. Do they realize that by
adopting this line Of argument they
are simply condemning the admins
tration OF their own psrtyY The fact
that prohibiting liquor laws can be as
easily and efYectually enforced as pro-
hibitory laws against murder, arson
and theft, when officers 30 desire, has
repeatedly been proven. Theodore
Roosevelt, a republican, proved 1t In
New York city. Samuel F. Pearson, a
Prohibitionist, proved it In Cumber
land county, Maine. Are we TO under
stand that the republican officers OF
Ionia county are habitually violating
their oaths OF Office by neglccting or
refusing to perform some OF their
duties.
You have probably noticed how
anxious the liquor men are that the
law regarding local option petitions
shall be obeyed to the letter. Accord
ing 10 the Portland Review the better
element among them are deliberately
planning to 90 into the drug business,
II the county goes dry, and sell liquor
In defiance OF both the letter and spirit
OF the drug store law. II the better
class OF liquor dealers will do this
what kind OF good moral character
do the others possess?
But suppose our saloon keepers
were law-apiding citizens. The Grand
Rapids Eve. Press, Sept. ~, 1908 says;
"In this campaign for properly regu-
lated saloons the mayor and aldermen
sbonld have the hearty cooperation
Of the police dept. More than this
u Ia a matter to which the better class
Of saloon keepers should lend their aid,
sinceit is designed fully as much Tor
the protection of their interests as for
those of the city at large" Not long
ago the Ionia Sentinel announced that
our county officers intended TO nix
things no that a man can go into a
saloon without being robbed. II peo
pie generally should get the IDEA Una.
saloons are dangerous places to Visit IL
might injure business you know
r.h,rl heoin TO understand what