The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1905-05-18
why AND WHEREFORE
o. the Reversal sf the Local opfisa
Sentiment At MI Vernon. 49,.
EXPERIENCE or TEMPERANCE TOWN
Ehst City Went Dry Two Years Ago
Bat at Recent Elections the Wsss
won Diligent Efrorts Wcre
Mado 20 Enforce the Law.


ity. after 1t had gone dry" two years
ago by almost rs large majority. ev.
cry community In the state Is interest
cd In the why and wherefore" there
Of Two years ago the "drys" carried
Mt. Vernon by majority Of 249 on
the promise that the tax rate would
be lowered and that prohibition would
be given q fair trial This time the
"wets" won q victory with 279 votes
to spare, after It had been demon
strated that prohibition did not pro-
hibit" and that taxes we're higher.
The "wets" had q majority in ev-
cry precinct In the municipality ex-
cept two. and In those the "drys" had
q majority Of only IT.
The novelty Of the "dryness" was
attractive at the outset. but when
store rooms and dwellings became va
cant and business men complained of
dull times. 1t was apparent that
change was needed. The taxpayers
were more than ever impressed with
the necessity of a change. from busl-
ness standpoint, when Mayor Gotshall
advised council that a higher tax rate
would be required to keep the city out
OF bankruptcy. In two years the rate
of taxes increased from $3.50 to
$34.40, and to preserve the clty's cred
1t, even with the increased tax rate,
public improvements were reduced to
the minimum.
That the dry period cost the city
$4,000 in Low taxes. 10 one will un-
dertake to deny. The two years cost
business men many thousands more.
But the whole matter did not hinge
upon this one of dollars and cents.
The voters of this enterprising city
took into consideration the moral con-
idtion Of the city. The ballots indi-
Gated what Is known to be true-that
Mt. Vernon actually was more dissi-
pated, and that there was more law
lessness during the dry" period than
ever before In the history of the mu-
nicipality. The records of the mayors
court and Of the county courts will
prove this statement.
Mayor Gotshall said to the CORE
Epondent:
'In every case. without a single
exception, there was a conviction.
The sum of $770 was collected in fines
In local option cases and paid into the
city treasury during the last year, in
addition to $1,000 in fines in cases
which are now pending In the higher
courts"
After the election Superintendent
Wheeler of the Aht-Saloon league
urged this excuse for the defeat Of the
drys: Had the municipal authorities
made the town dry, as was contem-
plated under the law, Mt Vernon
would have boen dry today"
Mayor Gotshall replies to this In
these words:
II beg leave to state that Mt. Ver-
non was as dry for the last two years
us any of his so-called and misnamed
dry towns in Ohio and that conditions
in this city under the Beal law were
pronounced by our local speakers DUR
ingng our recent local option cam.
paign as being satisfactory, and that
they were we'll satisfied with the re.
suits Of two years trial Of local
option, and appealed to the voters of
this city for a continuance OF the
same. In assigning reasons for the
defeat of local option In Mt Vernon,
Superintendent Wheeler should have
paid at least some little homage TO
the star-eyed goddess OF truth, who,
whether Intentionally or otherwise,
was woefully sighted in his late in
terview."
Attorney William NJ Rooms com.
ments upon the Wheeler statement az
follows:
Every prosecution brought before
the mayor resulted in q conviction.
Wheeler further says, but the peo-
pie tired Of law that the officials
would not enforce, that Is the entire
story
This is another fling at the county
oficials, and cali attention to the fact
that nowhere in the United States
can there be found an instance In
which there has been q more untiring
Jealous and unwaverlng enforcement
OF the law as that witnessed In Kaox
county"
It was not necessary to tell the vot.
ers OF Mt. Vernon OF these things.
They knew them. The moral question
appealed strongly to them. They de.
cided that It was not question Of
wet" or dry" but OF "wet" or wet"
1t was a matter Of the degree OF wet.
hess" That Is, whether the city was
to have places where everybody knew
drink could be secured, or IL the 10.
cal option law should be further yio.
lated-if irresponsible persons shoull
DO permitted to smuggle wet goods
into the city and sell them to young
and old alike. The condition bee ,me
90 serious at one time that the school
authorities called public attention to
the stealthy and demoraiizing drink
Ing of children.
When 1t came time to vote. the citi.
Gems simply decided that they prefer
red open saloons. lower taxes, mere
public improvements and law and or.
der 10 speak easies." "bootieg. rum.
sellers, high taxes and generally do
noralizod municipality. ~ -.,.,
Not So Sweet
Yes parting is such sweet sorrow.
For the eyes begin to fill
And the breast to heavo and the soul to
grleve
When you part with your last dollar