Smyrna times., 1907-09-04
Interview With Marion DeKaIb Smith.

local option, when entered his Office.
But knew him to be genial gentle
men, a man of decided opinion and a
most interesting talker. This is the |
story he told me: 'In 1878, 1 think it |
was, the question of license or no |
license was first submitted to our
people and, as you may imagine, it
brought forth a lively contest. All
through the campaign the saloon elp-
ment was confident of winning, and
indeed, to the observer, it really did
look as though they would win out
But when the votes were counted, to
the utter surprise of the whiskey
people, the county voted dry by some
700 majority. did not agree with the
proposition at that time, and 1 voted
for license.
"When the saloon doors were closed
and the blinds put up, those fellows
were very angry and sore. They could
not understand it, and they vowed that
the question should again be submitted
to the people. But they did not cal
culate that then years should elapse
before it came to a vote again.
''In 1888 or 80 the question came
before the people again. The saloon
people were iubilant. They declared
that there was no doubt this time
about winning. They could see the
saloon thrawn wide open again and
hear the jingle of glasses once more.
But, alas. again they were doomed to
disappointment. This time they were
fairly stunned. The county went dry
by more than 1900. That settled the
question. The people had spoken in
no uncertain tone, and the rum element
bowed its head. No attempt has been
made to submit it since then. Itwould
be no use. AS in 1878 1 again voted
for license"
''Both times!" 1 said with some sur
prise.
eyes, he said, ''purely for reasons
of my own. But l would not do so
again. don't know whether it is be-
cause accumulated years have brought
wisdom, or because my vision has be-
come clearer, but l am now thoroughly
convinced that the absence of the
saloon, the prohibiting of the public
sale of liquor, is a great benefit to a
community.
cit manifestly helpd trade, because
the money wasted over the bar now
goes into proper channels. It certainly
improves the moral condition, because
a great promoter of crime is removed
1t surely helps the family of the work
ingman, since the convenient purchase
of drink is stopped, and the wages
squandered at the bar now go to max,
the home brighter.
Crime and disorderly conduct wer,
, practically swept away with the sa
looms. In the old license days, whel
. saloons fiOurished in this town, it wa
no unusual thing to see drunken mel
staggering along the streets, and stree
fights were common occurrences. Yot
, may occasionally now see an intoxi
Gated man here, but he belongs to tn
riff raft, not to the respectable class
and street fighter or disorderly gath
/ ering would startle the town"
8 ,'Does local option make your take
higher, or in any way increase you
= county expenses?" 1 asked.
}. "Not in the slightest, he replied.
v 81 know that sort Of argument j
7 frequently used, but there is absolutel
8 nothing in it.
!. Let me tell you something else,
e he said. "No man could get the SUI
l. port of the people of this county fc
,e any office if he should announce hin
It self in favor of license"
Q said, ''They told me the same thin
;. in Talbot County"
t "Well, it is true, he said. 'It ht
been tried here, and it met with IL
- worst of failure.
u Another thing" said he, "to ii
t. surprise of the saloon people the co
r Qred men voted lor local option. The
o were sure of the colored voters. The
It expected to corral them, but most c
e them voted for no license"
h said, Perhaps the colored votei
Q stopped long enough to ehlnk that th
% only beaeft the rumseller was to the
@ was to gobble up every cent they cou
=. earn, set them crazy with his poiso
II and then kick them out, to get in
n trouble"
id As l arose to go, 1 said, "Then, NJ
at Smith, your experience tells you th
1r local option is a good thing for COZ
.. munity?"
|. eyes," he said, "decidedly, yes. "
y, j. F. Thompson, Grocer, Said.
u "There can be noa doubt about
~ local option must help business. III