The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-10-26

l u lo-Wny tnlS OppoSltl0n TO THIS OuSlneSSI
A.-Because whenever and wherever established,
it is, without exception. curse, preying upon
the public, degrading men and lowering their
industrial efficiency; the foe of the home. the
enemy of labor, and, directly and indirectly, the
friend and cause of untold penury, pauperism
and crime.
| Q. 14-This being so, why do not all our citi-
zens vote against the saloon and for Local
Option?
A Some are Indifferent and do not vote at all;
some, despite its acknowledged evils, want the
saloon and vote for it; some for friendships sake
vote for it, some, it is hoped notmany, responsive
| to certain potent persuasives that the liquor in
I terests are expert in using, vote for license;
whilst many whosesympathies are naturally with
temperance, either do not vote at all, or vote for
| license because of the alleged ineficiency of
Local Option
Q. 15-What are some of the alleged facts that
are said to prove the ineficiency of our Local
Option Law?
A.-Such as:-'the law is not and cannot be en-
forced" "there is mo-e liquor sold under it than
under license:' "the vast amount of drunkenness
| among boys, &c p "the multiplication of speak
eases;" ''more drunken men seen on the streets
than under license. &c.
" luis IL u iuCC tAdG Tie law Is AOt
A.-The testimony OF competent and impartial
observers in various parts of the county is to the
effect that the law is we'll observed. No law can
be absolutely enforced. The law against murder,
theft, rape, &C., with their severe penalties, do
not prevent men from committing those crimes.
Why should an impossible test be applied to the
Local Option Law? Such demand is not only
absurd it is insincere. Considering the facilities
| fnrpi cho6 fori itc wiz lotio uov
the one side and Delaware and Oxford ON the
other, the law is a remarkable success.
Q. 17-Can the law be enforced?
A.-That it can be enforced and its violations
proved and punished is shown by The records Of
the last term of our Court.
@. 1s-What ofthe declaration that more liquor
is sold under local option than under license?
A,-This statement is made by the liquor advo-
cate in the interests of license. The manu-
facturer and wholesaler are doing all in their
power, as we have seen, for the success OF license
They are doing this presumably, to enlarge the
market for their goods. If more of these goods
are now sold under local option than would be
under license. they are, certainly, to use mild
phrase, extremely foolish to spend their money
and use their influence to secure what WILL it
this be true, diminish their sales. This trans
the fact that at least twenty-one men in the
county are eager to pay high rents, from $3.50 to
$500 for license besides the State license and
Counsel's fees, for the privilege of engaging in
this business.
Q. 19-How about the alleged drunkenness
among boys?
A.-Boys, like men, if they are determined to
drink will find the means to crafty their
appetite. Minors do get liquor. But under
Local Option, it is difficult for them to get it,
They must go or send for it outside the county or
find it in some dark and forbidden speakeasy
But, will it promote sobriety among the boys to
throw wide open twenty-one places, lawful and
easy of access and ready to supply all they wants
II the allegation be true it is most forceful argu-
ment for vote for local option and against license
for the sake of the boys. The same reasoning
applies to the alleged fact of the great number of
drunken men now to be seen on our streets. The
advocates of license would have us believe that
their number will be decreased by multiplying
their facilities Tor getting drunk twenty-one fold.
Under local option the drunken man is drunk
against our will-his condition is the result, we
know of a violation of the law Under license.
the drunken men. greatly increased in number,
is drunk, we must confess, because we have by
our votes authorized the business that has made
him So: He is legally drunk. The voter is
Continued ne,tt aVeek.)