Amador ledger., 1904-04-22
kerr'S Pharmacy, Jackson.
THF LIQUOR LICENSE ORDIN-
ANCE.
Hearing Before the Supervisors = Both
Sides Muster in strength-The Ordin-
ance is Finally Declared Invalid
by the District Attorney.


has been such fruitful source of dis
cuJsion and dissension throughout the
county for the past two months, came
up for final action before the super
visors last Saturday. A special meet
ing of the board had been called for
that day to hear arguments pro and
con on the subject. A numerously
signed petition had been presented to
the supervisors at the regular meeting
in April. asking that the amending
ordinance be amended by striking out
certain Objectionable clauses, namely,
the giving of bonds in the sum of $1,000;
the requirement that 10 out of 20 free
holders living nearest to the proposed
place of business sign a petition favor
ing the application for license, and also
the provision that the application for
license be published in the newspaper
published nearest the proposed saloon.
All the supervisors were present at
the meeting, and it was expected that
lively til,ing match between the con-
testing forces would be the outcome.
The petitioners for amending the Or
dlnance were represented by Attorney
j. w. Caldwell. Those who wanted
the ordinance to stand as it is were out
in force. lone sent by far the most
numerous delegation-membe bers of the
anti-saloon league recently formed in
that section. Other parts of the coun-
ty were likewise represented. There
were some from Pine Grove, Plymouth,
Shenandoah valley, and other points.
The supervisors room was crowded,
showing the interest taken by the peo-
pie generally in this matter.
The proceedings were opened by ] E.
w. Caldwell, who confined himself to
the legal aspect of the question. He
contended that it was useless to discuss
the various provisions of the ordinance
until the question of its validity as a
whole was decided. If the ordinance
were invalid-and he had no hesitation
in saying that it was-to try to enforce
it would be useless. 1t would mean un-
necessary expense for both the county
and the saloon men. He therefore re-
Trained from entering into details to
show the harsh and oppressive nature
OF the Objectionable features.
The other side, however, waltzed
right into the breach. D. Mccall of
lone was the first speaker. He con-
tended that the best method of testing
the validity of an ordinance was to en-
force it, and he wanted the present or
dinance tested. He gave few leaves
from his own personal history to illus
trate the evils of the liquor habit, and
to explain the reasons why he was op-
posed to the saloons.
S. Fl. Phillips from Shenandoah val
ley followed. He made an interesting
talk. He stated that the agitators in
this movement had been styled in the
Ledger religious ''cranks." But if
they were cranks, the supervisors were
In the same category for passing the
ordinance. A crank means to turn.
and if the supervisors wished to prove
that they deserved the appelation they
could not do it more effectually than
by turning back upon their action, and
repeating the ordinance they had
created. In the course of Mr.. Phillips
remarks he admitted frankly that pro-
hibition of the manufacture and sale of
intoxicants was the ultimate object
aimed at. Indeed the remarks of all
the speakers were from purely moral
and temperance standpoint. The COM
munity would be better and more pros
porous if the traffic in liquor were
abolished.
Mr.. Mowbray, another of the num-
erous delegation from lone, addressed
the board. He admitted that he was a
member OF the anti-saloon league of
lone. 1t was not boycott organiza-
tion. 1t was true that the majority of
the members were church folks, who
outnumbered the worldly element bv
four. He found them good company.
and although not a church member
himself, was not ashamed to be a CO.
worker with them in this movement.
He went into statistics. He said the
saloons were altogether too numerous
in this county. In lone there was a
saloon for every 45 voters. In Jackson
he understood there were 900 voters
and 60 saloons. The correctness of this
statement was at once CHALLENGED.
whereupOn he toned it down to suit.
He referred to the liquor business as
the fruitful source of crime. Fully so
per cent of the criminal trials were due
TO the liquor habit. He contrasted the
communities where prohibition was in
force with the "wide open'' towns, to
the disadvantage of the latter. In re-
gard to the bond provision of the Or
dinance he hoped that would be re-
tained. Why should not the saloon
keeper be under bonds? County Off
cials gave bonds for the faithful per-
fOrmance of their duties.
The Rev. w. c. Howard of lone.
Rev. F. A. Deal of Pine Grove made
brief addresses to the same end.
w. o. Clark of Drytown, the veteran
war horse of the temperance cause,
who, as he stated had hean in tho bar