The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-04-03
TIE SALOONS MUST GO.

The news from NASHVILLE - tnat INV
bill 10 give Columbia authority TO vote
the saloons out of town. vii pass with
little or no serious opposition We
do not see how the legislature could
act otherwise. They have already en-
dorsed the princiDle. which is none
other than that contained in the Adams
bill. And nov when a town not ~
cluded in that law. comes and begs OF
them the sane privilege they have
granted TO others. of course they will
nor refuse. But that bill will merely
give to Columbia the right to get rid
of saloons. To take advantage of that,
another bill must be passed, repeating
the charter of Columbia, ana stu
another one Incorporating under the
new law. Ana before that is done,
the people must be heard from, through
petition or by ballot.
The Herald relieves in local self
government. 1t believes in the right
of the people to rule. 1t believes that
if majority of the people OF Column
bla. upon fair expression of their
wishes, say they want the saloons to
stay, the saloons ought to stay. But,
we do not see any good reason why
the saloon men should be permitted
to elect how the wishes of the people
should be determined.
We do not believe a majority OF the
people want an election. They have
already signed two petitions in over
whelming numbers, asking to be rid of
the saloons. They have expressed
themselves in black and white. They
do not now see the need of, and do
not want, the noise and confusion.
the bother and vexation, of ali cleo
ton. Not that they are afraid of it :;
but because they do not see the nee
essity for it. They believe the petit
ton to be the fairer way. A man
votes more soberly, deliberately and
honestly, when he signs his name to q
petitloH than he does under the excite
ment and furry and passion of an
election day.
And a better reason than that even.
IS this: Fraudulent names on petit
ton may be pointed to and striKen OF.
Fraudulent ballots will creep into the
ballot box, and once in must be cour-
ted. Why not do the fair thingf
Why not let the people over their own
signatures say what trey want, and
then give it to them? All that our
representatives ought to want to Know
all that the Legislature ought to want
to know, all that the Governor ought
to want to know. is the homes. sentl-
ment of the people honestly expressed.
If they can be satisfied, therefore, that
that sentiment has been honestly and
fully expressed..o the petitions, what
10 the use or excuse for an electlonf
The saloon people have a right to
hearing. We would not take that from
them if we could But they have no
more right to demand an electioh'
than the anti-saloon people have
the right to demand the petition. All
our legislators should demand or desire
is to know the wishes OF the people {;
and when they have gotten that, mel
Their side has right to complain.
A legal election cannot be helo
under the Dortch law between now
and the adjournment of the Legislature.
Why submit so important question:
why open the polls, to the corruption
that we know will characterize the
day and pollute the ballots?
The demand of the whlskey men for
an election IS unreasona contrary
to the wishes of three fourths of the
people of Columbia, and should be
overruled by our representatives.