The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-08-23
tTEm HING 4 cuRRENr.

The statement is made that the IConnecticut Liquor Dealers Associa- tion when it meets for its annual con vention next week at Bridgeport will remain in session two days instead of one. It is unofficially explained that the reason for more prolonged con- ference is the growth of the temper anee sentiment. The attitude of the General Assembly added to this feel ing of apprehension and the liquor dealers are said to feel the adverse influence of the South, which is being used effectively to introduce prohibi- tive practices.
 | There is reason for this apprehen- sion of the liquor dealers of the State of Connecticut and of the other States. There is a current setting in from a number ofs quarters all threatening to make a mighty ocean of protest against prevailing methods of selling I
 lliquor. Throughout the South the movement has made phenomenal Eheadway and it is gradually spreading to other sections of the country where lthe lighter view of liquor selling and Iliquor drinking has prevailed. This is ltrue to the extent of warranting the Hear on the part of liquor dealers that If they undertake to force the conttn- Euance of things as they are they will Hose and lose heavily. For many tyears it has been evident that the free flor all policy in force could not for lever be tolerated The consequences have been too serious from the point of the national health and from the Ipoint of the ability of States to stand Ithe strain upon their resources. The hundreds of bills which have been in- troduced into the Connecticut legisla- ture, while in many instances they have been drawn by cranks or earnest men in advance of their times, testify nevertheless to the determined spirit back of the temperance movement,
 Even though the cost of the liquor habit has been enormous from the point of view of the nations produc- ing capacity there is no reason yet to question the soundness of the the- ory that it is the abuse of thing which makes it dangerous. The seri- ousness of the question which con fronts the Connecticut Liquor Associa- ton concerns that very view, The conviction has been steadily growing Ithat the looseness with which licenses have been issued by county commis- lsioners, without regard to the nearness of saloons already Established, was contrary to good public policy. The situation in New Haven shows this to |be we'll founded objection. Instead of aiding in the limitation of saloons the liquor dealers have erred in re- Isisting the movement until now that the purpose has taken on additional impetus they seek to stem the current
 more serious study of the principle of high license dozen years ago knight to-day be used to smooth the
 rough road they fear is before them.
 Foremost among the forces which the
 dealers have 10 dread is the growing
 insistence of employers of tesyonsiblt
 subordinates that they desist from the
 use of liquor or accept lower posi- | tions Labor itself is exerting healthy Influence to reduce the cost of govern ' ment by cutting out the enormous ex penge caused by the prevalence of thu liquor habit. The Roman Catholi' church Is the very front rank of th } reforming influences and of all tn church organizations has it's car hitch } ed to a star. It is no wonder that tn [ Association which convenes proposes 5 to stay in session two days instead o
 one. And yet 1t can by looking tn condition straight In the face do nor
 to overcome radical settlement of tn
 question than any other single facto Involved. It is at least sound-sighte lin it's realization that reform way Is spreading itself over the country
 The days of free-for-al1 tipping an g free for all licensing are plainly mum n bered.