Smyrna times., 1907-09-11
LOCAL OPTION IN
CENTREVILLE, MD.
ANOTHER STRONG ARGU-
MENT AGAINST SALOONS
Published by Authority of the Elk
ecutive Committee of the Anti
License Campaign Committee


License Campaign Committee
A fourishing town, with its time
honored Court House, its modern
places of business, its beautiful homes,
and hospitable people, is Centreville,
the seat of Queen Anne's County,
Maryland.
More than twenty years ago, this
progressive people declared againstthe
public sale of rum, drove out the sa-
looms, and have never, for moment,
ceased to rejoice in the act which
brought to them greater prosperity,
higher morality, and better homes.
My inquiry in Centreville was very
general, and largely among people
whom 1 had never seen before.
found them all to be, after more than
twenty years experience, stauu ch ad-
Vocates of no license.
The best citizens, so far as l was |
able to observe, were all of one way of |
thinking. In fact. one gentleman said
to me, approach any respectable citi-
zen along the street, enter any repu-
table business house, ring any door bell
in town, and the answer to your in
uuiry will be, ''Local Option is bless
ing"
What p. 7. FOrman Says About 1t.
$50 and interview P. T. Forman, the
hardware man, and you will get a
frank, unbiased opinion, said gentle
man with whom l was conversing.
found Mr.. Forman at his desk in
the counting room of his store, and
made my business known to him.
.'Well," he said, ''if anything 1
might say would be Of any assistance
do not hesitate to say it. am not,
strictly speaking, a temperance man,
or prohibitionist, and anything I may
say will be from the standpoint of pub
lie good"
''That is the point, said l.
ST believe town is far better of
without the saloon" he continued,
"And my reason for believing so is be-
cause the abolishment of the saloon
decreases the bulk of drunkenness,
lessons the bulk of crime, and does
away with disorderly conduct
81 believe in Local Option as pro
lection to the man who cannot resis
the temptation of the saloon, and tC
the home that is made desolate becaus
he cannot.
''I believe in it because it establishe
a surer footing between employer an,
employee. Many a mans busines
suffers because his help continues Sat
nrday nights debauch into the mex
week.
Another thing, it makes county el
penses lighter. 1t costs this count
practically nothing to look after GRIN
inals. There may be prisoner or tw
in the Jail. don't know. But thel
is very little criminal business in OF
courts"
At this point, Mr.. Baker, travelir
man who was sitting in the stor
turned to me and said, "Let me r
mind Mr.. Forman of an incident tn
might, perhaps, interest you"
lone morning about a year ago
was standing at that window, viii
looks out on the Court House Gree
when I noticed that there was an u
usual number of people in town, a
that great many teams were hitch
around the Court House.
Speaking to Mr.. Forman, sa
People seem to be coming into toy
pretty lively, what's going on
day?"
"'We have couple of days of CO
here this week" replied Mr.. Form
"Couple of daysI" said. "Do
you have week of court?"
No, court generally lasts alb
two days. he said.
"That struck me as being very ful
said Mr.. Baker, "but 1t speaks we'll
the peace and good of the county"
''One of the best arguments in fa
of local option" continued Mr.. ]
man, sis, that after having tried
the people do not want the sale
back You will find that the cast
all the dry Maryland counties.
''Yes, when you come to consult
general welfare of community,
want to leave the saloon out of
question"
Talk With Charles A. Busted, Vice Pres
Of the Queen AGne's National Bank
Who ever knows Charles A. Bus
knows him to be wide-awake and
gressive citizen, and a man who
the welfare and prosperity Of his
munity at heart. In reply to m!
quiry he said:
Experience has taught me the
cal option, as it is termed, the pr
ton of the sale of liquor, is a