Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-02-04

believes to be a good one be attained
by no means that are not equally as
good.
l should be pleased if DR.. Marquis
would permit me to PROFOUND to him
a few questions which he> may not be
able to answer off-hand, but which he
will be able and anxious to answer,
if he studies the law, and acts on the
change of opinion, such a study will
be sure TO work in as fair-minded a
man as give him credit for being.
Is it Just, fair and thoroughly
American" DR.. Marquis, for a propo-
isitiOn to be represented to the public
and to those solicited for signatures
as a petition aimed only against the
saloons, when, as a matter of fact and
of law, the question is one of the abso-
/ lutte prohibition of the sale of liquor
by anyone or at any place, except by
the new druggist at his drug store,
where, with absolute impunity may
| file away the thousands of signed
statements given him by the army OF
customers who would be buying Whis-
ky for mechanical and medicinal pur-
poses?" Would it not be more ''just,
fair and thoroughly American to say,
frankly, that the success of the move
ment would not only mean no saloons
for at least two years, beginning 30
days after the election, but would also
forbid. under penalty of fine and I'M
prisonment. the taking of orders or the
delivery of liquor, and the making OF
any arrangements whatsoever for such
ordering and delivering?
Is it ''just. fair and thoroughly Amer
lean" to have the question on the Off
cial balior worded in such way that
the prohibitionists, in addition to hav-
ing successfully cloaked their pur-
poses with the claim of fight merely
upon the saloons, would also take adj
vantage of the affirmative answer with
the question put as follows: Shall
this city become anti-saloon territory"
Would not many voters, who do not
scrutinize their ballots carefully in the
voting booth, jump at the conclusion
that voting yes would be for the
licensing Of saloons, and would not the
prohibitionists get the advantage OF
much unwilling and unintended sup
port in just that way? Moreover, Is
il not part of the game to do just this
thing? If not why is the law such
that in case Rock Island became anti
saloon territory at the end of two
Years. large part of the voters should
weary of heavy taxation and Of the
contemplation of the drug store with
its living statements by customers. and
should successfully petition for an
election 10 consider the ACCESSIBILITY
of again licensing saloons, they must
word the question on the ticket i'll
such a way that the prohibitionists
being in the saddle, would still have
the advantage of the affirmative word
when they had denied is to the anti
prohibitiOnists before the latter had
been endorsed. Would the question
be shall the sale of Intoxicating liquors
be permitted? Well. hardly! Not il
the Anti-Saloon league knows ITSELF
The question on the ballot, as re
quired by law. would read: Shall
this city continue to be anti-saloon ter
ritory?"
Why. tell us. if the question is to &c
before the people in a manner that is
gust, fair. and thoroughly American
does it not go before them openly and
squarely, 50 that when the majority
has decided the defeated minority car
resign itself in true American spirit &c
the popular will. without that under
color of law it has been defrauded OF
one of the attributes of citizenship?
JOHN OHLWEILER.