Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1904-03-17
WHAT OTHERS THINK
a Few Facts From Local option
Counties-Busin,ss not Been
Injured.

There is much being said in thi
local option campaign that is only ru
NOR, TO put IL in the most favorabl,
light. We are repeatedly cited Il
Van Buren, Eaton and Montcalm coun
ties. have endeavored TO obtain th'
facts as TO conditions in these counties
, at first hand and that voters In Ionis
county may have the benefit
OF this information, | give below the
letters and statements OF many differ
ent persons in local option territory
some OF them having worked against
local option law.
The following letter vas received
from + NJ. Briggs, cashier Of the
Grand Ledge Loan and Deposit Bank.
Grand Ledge, Mich Mar. 3. GA
Rey. f.. n. Spear,
Belding, Mich.
Dear Sir:-Replying TO your favor OF
the first inst, would say tnat local OPP
tion has been great bent iii TO Grand
Ledge. The thousands OF dollars for
merly spent in saloons is now spent
with our merchants, for the necessar-
les OF life. Our merchants tell me that
their trade has largely increased in
the past two years and col ectious bet
ter than ever before. The owners OF
our factories say their men do better
work and lose less time and morally
our city is better than ever before. OF
course there is some opposition to To-
cal option, mainly among cheap politi-
~. 7. .H hr.
of justices, constables, sheriifs and
lawyers as cases OF drunks and disor'
derlies are practically unknown now
Our county tax is lower this year, be-
ing $l.5l on thousand, and in 1901 it
$l.62 per &l, 900, and our city taxes are
the same. The druggists tell me that
they sell about one eighth more whis-
key than formerly.
Yours truly,
+ NJ Briggs, Cashier.
d. NJ. Allen, Treasurer OF Van Bur.
en- county writes:
Paw Paw, Mich, Mar. A, '04.
Rev. Horace n. Spear,
Belding, Mich.
Dear Sir:-Your letter is before me
and in reply will say, the Board of Su-
' =
at S13, ,604 900 and voted to raise $40.
5S5,75, State tax, $4,000 county tax,
81, 100 Soldiers Relief, total for county
tax, S5l 100. Now we moved into our
new court house Feb %, 1908, it cost
ing us about Sl25,O00. Now perhaps
our taxes were three times as high as
In Ionia, | could not say but II they
were il was not due TO our graz Local
Option law. We have not yet finished
paying for oui court house nor viii we
until 1909, we owe $50, 600 and will pay
1000 and Interest Mar. Is 1904 and an
nually until paid. We paid nearly Sl4,-
900 in court house construction last
year and some Of that will cone out OF
1903 taxes, also about $500 for furni-
ture and electric light fixtures. Now
the report OF the Supervisors is in the
hands of the printer so ! can not send
you report but allow me TO say, we
are satisfied with local option and as
we have voted on the question several
times and II has carried each time by
a larger majority, is evidence we like
it. Suppose sit does cost some more,
which it does not, than To have the sa-
loon, we are glad TO have the change
to pay the tax aud rid the county OF the
nuisance. And besides 20 other coun
ty in the state made as many real es-
tate transfers as this county last year,
and il you ask those who came the rea-
son, they will invariably tell you TO get
away from the saloon. The man who
is bound TO have drink, is leaving US
and the man who wants no saloon, is
coming la and we are glad OF the
change, We don want the class. Our
merchants do larger amount of cash
trade, the doctor is better paid, we
have less crime, less misery and more
true citizenship.
To be sure we have some people who
get drink. but where you see one drunk
on the streets in VanBure county, you
will see one hundred in a saloon town.
Now tell the people Of lonia county,
the taxes will not be any more and
crime far less aud life far more worth
living-in local option county than in
a saloon town. Trusting I have writ
ten everything OF interest to you | am,
Yours truly,
-. Nj. Allen, County treasurer.
The Star has referred US to so many
Greenville business men who, 1t was
claimed, had been injured In business
by local option, that | spent couple OF
hours between trains last week, in
Greenville personally interviewing as