The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-01-29
Rev. John L. Scudder Ad-
vocates Local Option At
the First Congregational
Church
rWo CAMP sIGNs NOW ON
ONE MERELY SEEKS TO EsTAB-
LIsH HOME RULE ON THE
LIQUOR QUESTION THE OTHER
FAvoRs HIGH LICENSE AND
THE LIMITATION OF SALOONS

Rev John L. Scudder preached Sun
day night in the First Congregational
Church of Jersey City upon the topic,
"Wanted-Loeal Option and High Lii
cense in New Jersey He said in part:
s'The saloon is a boil on the body polite
and each community should have the
privilege of determining how many boiis
It wants upon itself. Local option gives
the town the privilege of declaring
whether or no it shall have a boil, and
high license enables the municipality to
pay the doctors bills with ease. when,
like Job, it is more or less covered with
these troublesome rumblossoms.
At present there are two distinct cam
paigns in this State seeking to secure
improved temperance legislation. Nei-
ther one is fanatical or unreasonable.
Neither clamors for prohibition.
Restriction rather than suppression is
their watchword. The first is quite
widespread movement and is fathered by
the Anti-Saloon League of New Jersey.
An 1t asks for is Home Rule. the right
of each community to determine it's own
relation to the liquor question. This is
known as Assembly Bill No. 1S and will
have hearing next Tuesday at the
State House at 1890 P. NJ. Many
churches throughout the State will be
represented there by pastors and lay del
sgations. And I trust the delegations
will be SO large and insistent that this
Local Option bill win become law. 1t
certainly deserves the enthusiastic sup
port of every Christian and patriot in
New Jersey.
The other movement in favor Of a
nigh license tax on saloons originated in
Jersey City among the Catholic clergy,
and from them as center has radiated
outwards in every direction and has the
approval and support of other denomina-
tons. Tomorrow those interested in this
crusade will have a conference in Tren-
ten and introduce bill shortly that will
a. for $1,000 license fee for every
saloon and only allow one saloon per
1000 population. This bill should also
become law, for under its provisions
the low groggery and the unserupulous
saloonkeeper would be wiped out of ex-
istence; selling liquor to minors would
cease. and other Objectionable features
cf the liquor traffic be eliminated for fear
of forfeiture of the license. The saloon
would be compelled through the increased
revenue to shoulder many of the intoler-
able burdens it now throws upon the tax
payers.
Paupers, criminals, idiots and lunatics
are largely the direct result Of the liquor
traffic. and alcohol being the father Of
these unfortunates, should support his
children.
II is up to the Republican party, now
in power, to listen to these just demands
Of an awakened people and grant their
desires. If ii fails to give US local option
and high license legislation similar to
that now in vogue in Massachusetts it
will forfeit the respect of those who
placed it in their power and receive the
just condemnation of all the churches of
every sect. The time is ripe for a step
forward. Let the Legislature of New
Jersey take it at once.