Milford chronicle., 1907-08-30

secure its repeal would, l am sure,
meet with overwhelming defeat. "
! INTERVIEW WITH MARION DE
KALB SMITH.
Few people are better known on
the Eastern Shore than Marion De
Kalb Smith, an able lawyer and an
astute politician. l had not the
slightest knowledge of Mr.. Smiths
views about local option, when l en-
tered his office. But l knew him to
be a genial gentleman, a man Of de-
cided opinion and a most interesting
talker. This is the story he told me
In 1873, l think it was, the ques-
ton Of license or no license was first
submitted to our people and, as you
may imagine, it brought forth a
lively contest All through the cam
paign the saloon element was conf
dent of winning, and, indeed to the
observer, it really did look as though
they would win out But when the
votes We're counted, to the utter sur
prise of the whiskey people, the
county voted dry by some 700 ma
iority. l did not agree with the
proposition at that time, and voted
for license.
'When the saloon doors were
closed and the blinds put up, those
fellows were very angry and sore.
They could not understand it and
they vowed that the question should
again be submitted to the people.
But they did not calculate that ten
years should elapse before it came to
a vote again.
"In 1888 Or SO the question came
before the people again. The saloon
people were jubilant. They declared
that there was no doubt this time
about winning. They could see the
saloon thrown wide open again and
hear the jingle of glasses once more
But, alas, again they were doomed
to disappointment This time they
were fairly stunned. The county
went dry by more than 1900. That
settled the question. The people
had spoken in no uncertain tone
and the rum element bowed its head.
No attempt has been made to submit
it since then. 1t would be no use.
As in 1878 l again voted for license"
"BOth times !" l said with some
surprise.
Eyes" he said. "purely for rea-
sons of my own. But would not
do so again. I don't know whether
it is because accumulated years have /
brought wisdom, or because my Wis !
ion has become clearer but l am
now thoroughly convinced that the
absence of the saloon, the prohibit
ing Of the public sale of liquor, is a
benefit to a community.
1T manifestly helps trade, be-
cause the money wasted over the bar
now goes into proper channels. 1t
certainly improves the moral cOndi-
ton, because a great promoter Of
crime is removed. 1t surely helps
the family of the wOrkingman, since
the convenient purchase of drink is
stopped, and the wages squandered
at the bar now go TO make the home
brighter.
"Crime and disorderly conduct
were practically swept away with the
saloons. In the old license days,
when saloons f1ourished in this town,
it was no unusual thing to see
drunken men staggering along the
streets, and street fights were COM
mon occurrences. You may occa-
sionly now see an intoxicated mar
here, but he belongs to the riff-raff,
not to the respectable class, and a
street fight or a disOrderly gathering
would startle the town"
"Does local option make your
taxes higher, or in any way increase
YOUR county expenses p l asked.
Not in the slightest, he replied.
II know that sort of argument is
used, but there is abso-
utely nothing in it.
LET me tell you something else, y
he said. "No man could get the
support of the people Of this county
or any office if he should announce
himself IN favor of license "
said, ''They told me the same
hing in Talbot County"
"Well, it is true" he said, lit {
las been tried here, and it met with
he worst of failure.
"Another thing" said he, ''to the )
of the saloon people the col !
red men voted for local option.
They were sure of the colored voters.
They expected to corral them, but !
most Of them voted for no license. "
4 o11O,oI rvo4