Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1907-10-19
MAY ENACT LIQUOR LEGISLATION
Greed of Dealers Will Force Issue to
the Front

/ the Front
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1l.-Failure to bow
to the will of public opinion when it is
clearly expressed by the people at the
ba lot box and in laws is responsible for
much OF tie radicalism which is depre-
Gated am ,iticised by the conservative
element uI the day. The liquor interests
are the greatest offenders in this line.
Saloonkeepers do not obey the law in clos
ing their places at the proper hours; they
sell to minors-and drunkards; they eyade
the regulations intended TO keep cities and
towns orderly; and in many ways offend
decency, bringing down upon them stricter
laws, and finally prohibition. Liquor in
/ terests use every possible subterfuge to
di-p,se of Iiqnor< in prohibition states and
prohibi' OF counties. They claim that
they do this brcanse majority of voters
have determined to interfere with Il =
personal liberty of certain citizens by pre-
venting them from buying and drinking
qnor when they desire to do so They
say, ''Let those who do not want to drink
liquor leave it alone, and those W 10 do
want to drink doso without interference.
That is just where the liquor interests
overlook the main point OF the contention
between the temperance people and them
selves. The temperance people maintain
that they have the right, if they have a
majority of votes in a commit nifty, to pro-
hibit the sale OF liquor in that commun-
ity. They do not do this because they do
not need or want the liquor, but because
they do not think it wise for other people
to have it. They object to the panpers it
makes; to the drunkards it creates; to the
suffering which follows tie indiscriminate
sale of liquor to men Who ought not to be
allowed liquor, ,and who become drunkards
because they can obtain it.
Liquor selling is a ltgalized traffic.
State and national, county and city laws
and ordinances control it. Law is made
BY the representatives of the people
either in congress or in state legislatures,
or by boards of aldermen or city councils
The people secure the enactment of such
laws as they desire by majority votes
through their representatives. II they
declare that they do not want liquor sold
in certain territory under their control,
they are entitled to have that decree re-
spected. Every time the liquor interests
attempt to defeat the will of the people OF
state, county or village by trying to
force the sale of liquor where the law says
it shall not be sold, then they foster a
spirit that is leading directly TO absolute
prohibition in the United States.
Let the liquor interests make fair and
square stand up fight against prohibition;
let them try to have majority with them
if they can get tin every state and county
il the country. They have the right to
use all honorable methods to prevent pro-,
hlbition III states and communities, but
when the majority decides against them
they will be wise if they do not try to
find means OF cireumyenting the will OF
the people. Every time they try to do
un awfully what the people have decreed
they shall not do, they lose ground. They
may not be able to see this, but it is
fact. The reason wby.the prohbitionists
have made such great advances lately is
because the liqnor interests have tried to
defeat the laws aud to overturn the will
Of communities where the people have
said that they did not want liquor sold.
Congressman Hepburn was telling me
about a condition that existed in his dis
trict, which bordered on Missouri, all Iowa
having been for years prohibition terri
tory. In his county, the congressman
says, there was man who came from
Missouri every day wearing a very large
canvas oyerceat. In that coat there was
a score OF pockets of different sizes, hold
ing warts, pints and half pints of liquor,
nearly always cheap grade of whiskey.
He went about from place to place and
delivered this liquor. He made his col-'
lectioBs in manner that did not impli-l
cate him as seller OF whiskey, and vet
he was eyading both the state prohibition
law and the national law, which required
a license OF man selling liquor. OF
course the man was a contemplate
wretch and it showed to what depths
tertains persons will descend in order to
make. living without actual work.
Finally the community drove the man
out OF town, would not let him appear In
the county.
The liquor interests have resorted to all
sorts of subterfuges to overcome prohibi-
tion in different states. The supreme
court decision which allows the shipment
OF liquor in original packages from one
state TO another gives these liquor men
the lawful means OF selling liquor in states
which has declared the sale of liquors un-
lawful. 1t is to meet the defects in the
present law as shown by this decision
that legislation is asked by congress. In
my opinion it is boundto come. Not only
willthe bilf requiring interstate commerce
to respect laws of states in regard TO
liquor traffic be passed, but congress will
90 further and provide that government
licenses shall not be granted in states and
communities where the people have de-
creed that liqnor shall not be sold. This has
been made necessary because the liquor
interests in their greed have endeavored
TO eyade The laws which the people have
thought necessary to enact. The result
has been that the temperance people have
gained strength. The Iaw-abiding people
Of the country, the people who want the
msinrity to rule. have been impeled to
vote with and support the prohibition
movement. Congress will show the eff.
fects OF this advanced temperance-m move
ment by passing several laws restricting
the sale of liquor.
ANNoUNcEMENr