The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-02-09
"shall The rsiority Rule -

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to the Hillsboro Gazette was refused
space in that aper under the plea
that It was tired Of the temperance
controversy It is given publicity
in the News. HERALD at the request
of Mr.. McNicol, for whose honesty of
Intentions we have the highest re-
spect, though we may not agree with
him in many instances: -
"Mr. Editor: Under the above
caption | find an editorial in your Is.
sue of February 3, replying to some
statements made by some correspon-
dent in the NEWS. HERALD, who satis-
fes himself by aifixing stars to said
article. In this contribution to the
Gazette, criticising editorial utter
ances, shall give you my name.
"What wish to call your attention
to las well as that of your readers)
Mr.. Editor, is your illogical deduct.
ions from certain premises taken. In
your reply to Stars you say that
you believed that the election held
on January did away with the Beal
law for a time. You might have said
for all time unless re.adopted by a
majority of the electors. How could
you logically come to any such con-
clusion when you knew that the
validity of said election was on trial
In the courtsp
"Your contributor believes you are
too easily convinced on come lines.
Further on In your reply to
''Stars" you say that you naturally
believed the statement to be true for
you thought 1t was case where ma
jority ruled. =
Nothing wrong in the idea of the
ma jority ruling. But In support of
that idea Mr.. Editor, can you point
to single utterance from your pen,
Ia the past two years, in which you
demanded a compliance by the minor
ity to the rule of the majority In ref
erence 10 obeyiug the conditions of
the Beal law (?) which in the letter at
least abolished saloons in Hillsboro? !?
Aye more, have you ever htnted that
these vile wretches who were low
enough to sell vile whiskey' operated
in Hillsboro? You will recall the
above language as yours in reference
to the vioiators of law in Pike county,
Indiana.
"While in Hillsboro fail to call to
mind any utterance in the Hillsboro
Gazette condemnatory of those who
disregarded the will of the majority
during the past two years.
"Mr. Editor you have had plenty
to say about the Anti-Saloon League
in their efforts to enforce the prohibit
tory ordinances in Hillsboro. Yet not
paragraph denouncing violators of
our city ordinances. Mr.. Editor your
attitude now, and also of the past two
years, reminds me of the description
of very 'straigh tree One who saw
1t said, 1t was so straight that 1t
leaned the other way just a little.'
So think you in your fairness lean
just little the other way.
sin support of this view of your at
titude would point to your utter.
ance In reply to Stars article in
NEWS HERALD. Stars claims you
were in duty bound TO call attention
to such violations. Your reply was,
IF newspapers told the truth they
would be barred from the U. S, mails.
All and in that issue of the Gazette
containing the above reply, find you
advertising the Gazette as giving all
the news all the time Something
wrong somewhere.
'In the issue of the Gazette of jan
uary 6 you frankly admit your oppo-
sition to the Beal law, but qualify
that assertion by saying as it was en-
forced. The essence and enforce.
ment of any law are as different as a
mans death and burial; the man dies,
but the living bury the body. But
say, Mr., Editor, were you In favor of
the Beal law before 1t was adopted
by the people of Hillsboro? In the
same issue of the Gazette just refer
red to, you purpose taking hand In
seeing that the saloon-keepers obey
the law. That is, in case the Beal
law is abolished. Why In the name
of everything that is consistent did
the Gazette not demand that the
speak easies' obey the ordinance and
close up?
Is 1t only when a law or ordi.
nance suits your views that you are
willing to help enforce it /? And that
popular majorities may 60 to
Halifax If it does not suit you.
"In very close connection with this
idea of taking hand to see that the
law is enforced, let me recall your at
tention to former claim of the
writer, In which l asserted that the
editor of any journal was under moral
and social obligations to see that the
laws and ordinances we're enforced
Your reply Mr.. Editor then was
newspapers these days have advanced
beyond the point of attempting to
mould public opinion-but simply re-
fleets public sentiment What public
sentiment In pressing you now, which
causes you to declare the Gazette will
take hand in seeing that the saloon
lets obey the law? But your contribu