Smyrna times., 1907-08-21
Local Option in Maryland
Continued from Third Page.

of the town will, am sure, verify this
statement. "
'"The saloon element say there is as
much liquor drunk here now as there
ever was," l remarked.
"Ah, that is but an idle assertion.
he said. "rhere is not a grain OF |
truth iu it. If that were true; the sum |
total of drunkenness IS not the same, |
and if the effect of the law is to take so !
many "drunks" out of a barrel OF
whiskey, the law is not a failure In
Salisbury"
"What has been its educational ef
feet Oh public sentiment?" l asked.
The local option law allows vote
on the question of license or no license
every four years, upon a petition OF
One-half of the registered voters who
voted at the last election for Governor.
l challenge the license advocates to get
one-fourth of such voters to submit
the question. The sentiment of the
good effect is so strong that it is doubt
full whether a petition of the kind could
even get starter"
"Wbat has been its effect industrl
ally?', inquired.
"Real estate has advanced within
three years from % per cent to 20 per
cent, " he replied "More houses hay Q
been built within the last three years
than in any three years before, and 1t
| is difficult for persons desiring hon es
| to get them. The effect is such that
our merchants would oppose a return
| to the license system. Those VIII
| formerly favored license would now
| oppose it; others who doubted are now
convinced that no license has improved
financial conditions.
After this interview had closed,
stepped into the office of L. Atwood
| Bennett, Just across the street, aud
told him of the talk l had just had
with Mr. Ellegood. Said he, 81 en-
dorse every word of it.
A Word From Mr.. Brlckhead, of the Firm of
Brlckbead & ShOckIey.
I asked a clerk, as [ entered the
handsome store of Brickhead Il Shock
ley, if either of the proprietors were in.
"That is Mr.. Brickhead, standir g
over there" he said.
I walked across to where he was
standing, introduced myself and said,
"Doubtless you know that the ques
tiOn of license or no license is to be
submitted to the citizens of Delaware
next fall, and for the information OF
those of our people who are undecided d
as to advantages or disadvantages Of
such law / would like to get yOur
views"
81 was always an advocate of no Ii
cense," said he, "believing it to be a
benefit to any community; both from +
moral aud a business standpoint
Many of our merchants censured me IL
those days for my views upon the sub
ject, but firmly believed in them
Experience has proven that l was cor
rect.
salisbury was never so prosperous
J as it has been in the last three years
under local option; the morality of tn
people was never so high; aud tn
peace and good order never so good.
every business is vastly improved
! every condition is better, every indl
vidual is benefited, since the tow
went dry.
"No business has suffered except th
saloon business. To show you. l al
one of the owners of the hotel here
and when the town went dry, som
!, people said I had cut my own thrOa
I OcnueckS Ju6 lduulOTu VI lu6 uOIol
q declared he would close it up as NJ
: man could run hotel without bal
He did not close it up as he threatene
to do but he sub-let 1t to the presen
proprietor, Mr.. Phillips. Then b
stood off, and confidently expected
see Phillips go up in the air. But
did not go. No sooner did the hot
- get the rum out of it's system. than
took on new life, and to-day Mr.. Phi
lips is doing better business tina
Schneck ever did"
What lanes Trniti. Iats Clerk of [