Smyrna times., 1907-07-31

O.. 0'PeotaOle youth. Local
Option has caused society here to mt
lts pan upon drinking, and the vonnoI
man who drinks does so at the nrico of
his respectability.
1our speak-easy is a coward that
snrlnks from public gaze, and no re-.
spectacle person is going to steal mn
oark alley, aud into an obscure room.
at the risk of public exposure. lust TO
get drink of common whiskev."
BUSINESS of every kind is in a aflour-
.shlng condition, and the whole county
Is enjoying wholesome prosperity" !"
Tax Rate in Caroline.
Inc tax rate over there is 81. .O4. That
would seem, at mere glance to be
rather high. but when you come to
look into it it will not appear so. Let
us see. They have not changed the
assessment in Caroline County in fif.
teen years. During that time, under
local option, the assessable property
has increased more than so, 900, 900. If
new and proper assessment should be
made to day the tax rate would not ex-
ceed OO cents. This is practically that
they are now paying and this includes
school Taxes as we'll as all others.
Down 10 Talbot County.
At Easton called upon that fine old
old Maryland gentleman, Major Will
liam &. Stewart. Major Stewart is
one of the finest lawyers on the East
ern Shore, an orator of marked ability
an old Confederate soldier, and for
years States Attorney.
In reply to my inquiry, he said,
Talbot County was never in such a
prosperous condition as it is to day.
1t is not only my opinion, but that of
every intelligent citizen of the count V,
that In the interest of business as we'll
as the morality of the people the local
option law is the best law that was ever
passed in the State of Maryland. Say
what they please, Local Option does
reform community-prohibition does
prohibit. Why sir, there was time
when Easton was notorious for drunk
eness. To-day there are no drunken
men on our streets, and no excessive
drinking among the people. The law
can easily control the matter. When
was States Attorney L drove the
speak-easies out of Talbot County and
broke up the drinking clubs"
"Let me cite you one instance OF
what Local Option will do" said he.
"The Chapel district was the last
among us to go dry, and in its wet
days was the most unthrlfty of us all.
From a business standpoint it was life
less. The farmer was poor and thrift
less; the merchant did poor business
and affairs generally were at low ebb
there.
In 1900 the Chapel went dry, and
Immediately there came turn of the
tide. Conditions began at once to
grow better, until to-day the Chapel
district is the most prosperous of the N
all. The Germans from Minnesota are
moving in there by the scores, and
now there is quite a settlement of then
there, and they are doing we'll. Yor
know Germans will not settle where
beer is not sold, either"
''By abolishing the saloon anC
drinking places, we have removed the
great bulk of crime in our midst, and
consequently lowered the expenses o
our county to a wonderful degree"
"Why, sir, am sure you could no
get a respectable citizen in Talbo
County to announce himself in favo
of rum. And this 1 will tell you for
fact, that there is not man in tht
county that could be nominated for
any Office, by either party, if he should
announce himself in favor of license. >
"Only the other day was talking tt
Col. Lloyd, one of the best citizens tn
community can boast of, as you know
and he said to me. "Major, you re
member how violently Iopposed Loca
Option years ago? Well, sir, 1 hav
lived to see the great mistake L then
made. Local Option has done NOR
, for our people than any law on tn,
, statute booksl"
'I hope you will win outin Delawar
next fall, and believe you will. Tn
tide of public sentiment is sweeping
headlong that way, and it is not much
use for a gang of rum sellers to get il
the way"
/ ''In summing the whole thing up,
) said he, 81 would say that Local Op
| ton is the greatest blessing that eve
T came to Talbot County"
Mr.. Tuthill. of N. Tuthill & Son,
prominent man of Easton, said in con
versation, ''I remember Easton in th