Smyrna times., 1907-02-13
SPECIAL BALLOT FOR LOCAL
OPTION FOR ENTIRE STATE
THIS is THE MOVEMENT NOW BEING AD.
VOCATED BY TEMPERANCE FOLKS.
The COustitutiOnality of Such Move Is Up
held By Legislative Attorneys to Be Valid
and Bill May Be Presented This Week.

That the question of license or no Ii
cense of the sale Of Intoxicating liquors
can be submitted to the voters of the
entire state at special election-thus
divorciug it from politics at the general
election-was a conclusion reached by
the counsel for the Legislature Friday.
There have been some questions as to |
whether such a bill could be framed |
that wOnld stand the test of constitu-
tiOnality, and Herbert H. Ward, chief |
counsel, after comforting with the other |
lawyers at length and after delving
into the provisions of the constitution,
expressed the belief that a measure
could be drafted that would stand a
local test. 1t is Senator Conner's idea
to submit the question of the sale of
liquor to the voters of the entire state
at special election sometime during
the coming fall. This would give an
opportunity for the advocates and Op-
ponents of the licensing of saloons to
fight out the issue untrammeled by
partisan politics being injected into 1t.
Mr.. Ward will prepare the local option
bill to meet Senator Conner's ideas
aud it will go before the Legislature
for a test of strength. That the bill
would be whisked through the House
is undoubted, and it is also believed it
would have the support of a majority
Of khn ifo
actment. Although the question would
be submitted to the voters of the entire
state it would be possible for one part
of the state to go "dry" at the election
and the other part to remain ''wet. !"
The constitution creates four sub
divisions of Wilmington,
rural New Castle county, Kent county
and Sussex county. Thus at the elec-
tion a majority of the voters in Will
mington or a majority in rural New
Castle county might vote for cOntin-
uance of licensing saloons, and that
would be done. A majority in Kent
county, however, might vote against
license, and that county would have to
be ''dry" for two years, and similar
result might occur in Sussex county.
1t might be possible that the majority
for license in Wilmington would be
greater than the majority in the State
against license, thus showing a major
ity of all voters of the state for license,
yet it would not mean that the entire
state would continue to enjoy the IL
cense system. For, under the consti-
tutional provision regarding local OPP
tion it is made plain that the result
must be counted and applied to the
constitutional districts, and those dis
tricts in when a majority would vote
against license would become dry
and those in which a majority should
express themselves for license would
continue to dispense ''wet goods.
Senator Conner all along has been re
garded as'an opponent of the proposa
to submit the liquor license question
to Kent county as a district, but hi
advocacy of the local option bill for tn
entire state-which is now gaining hin
praise from the temperance folks VIII
~ denounced him-lines him up wit
eight other senators who have openl
expressed themselves in favor of allow
10 ing the people to decide whether or no
d they wish liquor sold. One observe
y of the situation predicts that with
s. vote on the question in all district
a Wilmington would go "wet" and rura
40 New Castle would be in doubt, ant
u Kent and Sussex counties would g
'n "dry."