The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-05
FARMERS ARE AGAINST
PRESENT LICENSE LAWS
More Restrictions, They Say,
Should Be Thrown Around the
Sale of Liquor.
MANY TOPICS DISCUSSED

Just before adjournment yesterday after
noon there was a lively discussion in the
Farmers State Congress over the present
law providing for the granting of liquor
licenses and the manner in which saloons
may be established in country districts. The
congress generally criticised the method
which allows a man to enter community
and open a saloon without consulting the
residents of the neighborhood The dis
cussion was the outcome of a resolution
presented by the resolutions committee
which provides that the legislative COM
mittee shall make an effort to have the
State Legislature alter the law bearing on
the granting of liquor licenses by making
it require the applicant to secure the in
dorsement of neighbors before he can open
a saloon at a given place.
After u heated discussion the resolution
was adopted. Some of the members of the
congress did not favor the resolution on
the grounds that its provisions were i'm
practical However, many of the farmers
complained of the present rights given a
saloon keeper when he desires to establish
a saloon. This action of the congress
throws the burden of the liquor license on
the applicant instead of upon the remon-
strators. as under the present system. The
measure was not introduced as a temper
ance resolution, but aimed at giving the
farmers more to say in the establishment
of saloons in their neighborhoods.
The second annual meeting of the Farm
ers' Congress closed yesterday afternoon,
with the prospects for the coming year en-
couraging to all members. The closing ses-
sion was devoted entirely TO discussions of
resolutions presented by the committees.
Among the resolutions adopted was one per-
tanning to the methods of interurban trac-
ton companies in their alleged unreason-
able rates in the country districts. Some of
the companies charge as much TO ride half
the distance between two towns as to ride
the whole distance. Complaints in several
other respects were made. The congress
adopted a measure providing that the legis-
lative committee shall attempt to get some
relief along this line for the agricultural
classes. The congress also Endorsed the use
of convict labor in the making of road ma
terial as long as it does not interfere with
free labor.
At the morning session of the congress
j. A. Everitt, president of the American
Society of Equity, read a paper on Con
trolling Prices of Farm Products" which
brought forth a lively discussion on the
part OF the farmers Mr. EVeritt advocated
the cooperation of the farmers through
the Society of Equity, thereby enabling the
officers of the society to furnish reliable
data concerning the supply and demand of
farm products and to advise the farmers as
TO the prices they should put upon their
products Mr.. Everitt's plan was strongly
attacked by Leroy Templeton, farmer of
this city, whose opposition was on the
grounds that such methods tended toward
unionism. He said he was against union
ism and trusts and stood for fairness in
freight rates He contended that Mr.
Everitt's idea would create fictitious values
The general discussion of the farmers
however, supported the views of Mr.
Everitt.
The next meeting of the congress will be
held on the first Tuesday Of February
1905.