Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1907-10-11
The Local option Question.

Mr. EditOr;-In recent Issues Of your paper
have noted discussions OF some length for and
against the adoption Of local option ia our state
and have been both saddened aud amused by the
arguments OF the opponents of prohibition.
saddened because of their possible effect upon
some minds. Amused because Of their woeful
puerility.
ofcourse do not reply at length. Space would
not permit. But perhaps a suggestion or two
would not be amiss
Several citizens Of Elkton. Cecil County, Nd,
are quoted as showing what is claimed 10 be the
bad effect of prohibition there. It would be
strange indeed if some persons could not be found
in any community who are out of sympathy with
its laws. But what few men thiRk cannot be
made a criterion for public action. The question
is not what Mr. A., B. or c., residing in a given
locality, thinks; but what do THE PEOPLE OF
CECIL COUNTY Think It is in the voice of the
whole people that we get the W sdom of County
State or Nation. What does Cecil County say in
regard to the retail Of liquor in her bordersf
About sixteen years ago-I think in lsgO-after
several years Of prohibition license was carried in
that county. But four years of the open saloon
led, in 1894, to voIe Of no license. Again in
1898, through over confidence on the part of the
best peOp'e, license prevailed. But in 1902 intox
icants were again voted out. ghen the last
election, 1906, drew the people were too alert
TO allow repetition Of the mistake of the pre-
viOus vote and carried the county by an in
creased majority for prohibition. Il was freely
predicted before the election Of 1906 that license
would again win. But the people had time to
think and gather wisdom from previous exper-
fence. Now it is well-known fact that in con-
tests Of this sort the liquor interests use immense
amounts of money and whskey. Almost every
thing purchasable is bought and drinking men
who, left to themselves would. for their own sske
and for the sake Of their families, vote against
license, are rendered almost irresponsible by rum
and then voted in the interest of their destroYers
No informed person questions that large num-
bers of votes are thus influenced. II is therefore,
with perfect legitimacy, to be concluded that any
voting district, giving majority for temperance,
would. II free from these influences, be strongly
against the saloon. Prohibition, without resource
but direct appeal to the highest sense OF men,
has prevailed over all obstacles in Cecil showing
clearly that if the vote were cast uninfuenced by
money and whiskey, its majority against license
would be very much larger still. It seems late
in the day 10 publish the opinions of individuals
who are opposed to the law. A few men may be |
found on earth who deny the existence of God. |
But their opinions carry no weight because the |
combined intelligence OF the world is against |
them. The whole people Of Cecil County have
said plainly, and with distinct emphasis: NO |
LICENSE.
In the second place, does it not seem rattle |
strange that the people of that county after six
teen years Of varying experience with the saloon,
are so blind to their own interests as not to
know what they are doing? Is supposable that
the christian men, the business men, the fathers,
the finaneiers of Cecil are of such low order of
as not to have considered the ques-
tons Of morality and finance proposed by the
license articles above referred to? Such a sup
posit on would resolve Cecil into vast insane
asylum where instead of an election at which its
people may register their convictions there is
urgent need of the establishment Of a protecto
rate. Sane men do not pronounce uoon public
question OF this nature without consideration and
conviction. The intelligence of Cecil County,
Maryland, IS therefore, against the CONVENTIONS
Of the license publication-both as to moralitr
and business.
Having resided in both Chesapeake and North
East, am in position to say something from
PERSONAL knowledge as to the orderliness Of the
wo towns. with and without saloons. In the
iTst my home was about the distance Of a square
md a half from the bar Street carousals
specially at night, were not infrequent Usually
UGH a crowd of men. in various degrees Of intox
cation, stood around the saloon corner that il
Tas embarrassing, even in the day, for ladies to
ass. Saturday nights were ralyng times for ali
he evilly disposed from the town and country.
leelI' men were so common as scarcely to
ause Comment. The last night OF the open
lloon was made hideous even to one or two
clock in the morning, by the yells and curses Of
hagrin drunkards. Immediately, however,
pom closing the saloon this all changed The
)wn became in com arison. orderly and quiet
even on Saturday nights. The same was true
North East, as any reputable citizen will
'stify. Nor was this by means the quiet
ess OF death, Some persons mistake the wild
ives Of intOxication for healthy activity. They
re as remote as the polls. I his was the quiet
ass OF sober attention by these communities 10
leir best and highest Interests
f. S. DASHIELL,
Pastor NJ. E. Church.
Frederick, Delaware.