The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-05
LEGISLATORS
AND LOCAL
OPTION
3
Anti Saloon League Getting
Busy aud Sees Bright Out
look at Coming Session.

Already the Anti-saloon League Is
beginning work preparatory to the or
Sanizatiep of the Legislature, and
superintendent J. Frank Burke has
lust sent out a letter to all Senators
and Assemblymen. with copies of the
local option bill of last year. In the
letter he refers to the growth of senti-
ment against saloons and liquor. The
letter from Mr.. Burke is as follows:
AS you probably know the church forces
81 the State, whose agent the Anti-Saioon
League is, have been and still are, urging
the adoptionaof a local optian law. Nearly
a1l the denominational bodies, either di-
rectly or indirectly, have commissioned us
am enclosing q copy of the bill as intro
uueed IN the last session OF the Legislature,
together with some other literature.
As representing the people OF your
county, we know that you are interested
70 carry out the will of the majority and
hence we desire to suggest:
This bill, urged by our people. simply
pfoVtdes that the right of majority rule
by the citizens of any community shall
not be abridged on the question OF thu
issuance of licenses, any more than 1t Is
on other important matters. Today licenses
are granted to sell Intoxicating hauor u
communities without the consent OF Il ma
1ority OF the people, and ofttfmes against
their almost unanimous protest. The peo-
pie have no redress under our present law.
Tn every other State East of the MISSES
sippi, except New Jersey, the people have
some power of effective local veto over
the ISSUANCE of licenses. There are only
five States in the entire Union In which
all such power is withhel from the people,
the other four lying In the far West.
the An CROWNS T,fnse9 Rnowled &C Of the s' position lt,r
which New Jersey occupies on this ques-
ton, as you undoubtedly know, are
awakening our citizenship to a keen sense
Ar hv.r4,flfof tnf. that fhn riOht .of utIffra0 90
on this question is being denied them,
and yet being granted everywhere else In
the Union.
II do not suppose that it is necessary
to call attention to this rapidly increas-
ing sentiment, but as we are In constant
touch with some twelve or fifteen hundred
clergymen, with access, to the puipits q
nearly all of the churches, with five men
devoting their entire time to organiza-
ton and agitation work throughout the
State. and with other extra men with
fore congregations, besides coming in con
tact with a large number of people
through our paper and week day services,
we assure you that the sentiment is not
of the State for this fair local option
law. but in some sections it Is reaching
almost the point of unanimity.
I'VE trust that you can see your way
clear to aid this fair measure by your
vote and influence. Thrre WIS some conf
plaint from sorie of the Assemblymen IN
our Hast primary campaign, as We'll AS De-
ferc election. that they did not thoroughly
understand Just what the church people
Awere skiing for in this particular bill, or
Rhev would not have voted against II.
May we impress this thought upon you,
Haat there may be no MISUNDERSTANDING
regard to the nature of onr bill: 1t does
III ask you to vote for or against the
saloon, but sin1tsy that you grant to the
pekpls the. right TO decide the matter for
themselves.
Shperintendent Burke, in commenting on
tina situation. said.
II am hearing from a number who were
members of the Assembly last year, who
arc favorable this year. Some OF them
have been converted to the very fairness
Spt Justice of our request. Others are
seeing that the power of the liquor men
Is q myth, and they all see the tremendous
strides being made throughout the whole
,,hion. and are awakening to the fact that
e people WIFI not stand being at the
10y emu q the procession ANY longer.
-@f4A1eTT has there been q brighter out
hhok from the standpoint Of united public
eSentiment for the people being gransed
4thcir just demand in regard to this mat
Ter than this winter