Middletown transcript., 1907-07-13
GIANT FIGHT BEGUN
National Movement Started to Get
Decision From U. S. Supreme Court

Decision from U. >. Supreme OVuEb
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN,, July 7th.-
That weIl-known men representing un-
limited wealth are back Of movementto
get a dicision from the United States
Supreme Court on the constitutionality OF
granting saloon licenses, a movement
which is to be made national by cam
paign Of education this summer, is the
announcement made by Charles E. New
lin, a business man OF indianapolis, who
is in Milwaukee with the expectation Of
getting one of the test cases started in
Wisconsin.
The movement is one OF the most
unique temperance crusades ever under
taken, it being Mr.. Newlin's opinion,
supported by the decisions Of four Indiana
circuit judges and the opinion of innum-
erable attorneys, that if test case is
brought before the Federal Court, the
decision will put every saloon in the
United States out OF business in the same
manner that it has been declared impos-
sible to legalize lotteries, gambling and
prize-fghting.
Pledges of financial support in fighting
the case made to Mr.. Newlin by wealthy
men are said to bel part Of the unwritten
history which lies back OF the sensational
decision rendered by Judge Samuel R.
Artman, OF the Boone County Circuit
Court, at Lebanon, Ind, last February.
Saloon Men Fail to Appeal
Assured by these men that they will
guarantee the money with which to make
the fight in the Federal court if case is
brought to it, Mr.. Newlin started the
movement in Indianapolis; but, unfor.
tuuately for his plans, he has been unex.
pectedly successful in the lower courts in
every one of the four cases brought in
Indiana, and the defeated liquor men
have refused to appeal.
Consequently, Oh the advice oil attor-
neys, cases are to be started in number
of other states. With two addresses on
the Fourth Of July, Judge Artman start
ed out on lecture tour, which will take
him from coast to coast, and during which
he will speak once or twice each one of
the sixty five days OF his vacation in de-
fense OF the ruling which caused an al.
most national sensation.
Appeal will be taken on the first decis.
ion unfavorable to those who are inciting
the cases and who hold that is not ques-
ton of temperance, but one purely of
law, and who predict that within ten
years they will succeed in getting a de-
cision which will put every saloon in the
country out OF business.
The men behind the movement declare
they will keep up the fight until they
carry case to the highest court or until,
if they cannot find lower court to de-
eide against them, and saloon men persist
in refusing to appeal, they have secured a
local alNdecision in every circuit, which will
have practically the same effect.
Part Of Great Movement
That the case which led to the Judge
Artman decision was part Of a national
movement to put saloons in the same
position as lotteries, prize fighting and
gambling has not been generally known.
Mr.. Newlin's interest in the legal status
of the saloon was first aroused in 1890 by
a United States Supreme Court decision
in the case Of Crowley We. Christensen,
which said: There is no inherent right in
citizen thus to sell Intoxicating liquor at
retail; it is not a privilege Of a citizen of
the state or citizen of the United
States"
Although not an attorney, l was i'm
pressed by this decision and by a mum.
Der of others by state supreme courts,
and | compiled pamphlet of these de.
cisions and sent it out in 1903" said Mr..
Newlin. Il was surprised to find how
many people had been thinking along
the same lines.
"Then determined to test the matter
and employed law firm. They told me
it was good law. l than conferred with
wealthy men and they we're greatly inter
ested, and told me that if l could get
case into the United States they would
assume the expense.
'With millions behind me, 1 went
home and called conference OF prone,
iDent business men, regardless ct their
attitude on the temperance question. An
organization was formed.
1--WE entered remonstrance against
the application OF a grocer who wished to
open a saloon. There was absolutely
nothing against his character, and he
was located in saloon ward, go that the
point which we raised was the only one
at Issue. We appealed to the Circuit
Court. The saloon men took a change
OF venue and the case went to Judge Art
man, of Boone county. His decision is re-
garded as masterpiece, and it created a
n-nr Ii