The Columbus journal., 1908-07-08

pfiaelpies Of county option, oscaase
thy ' protect t0eas ana villages
AGAINST the domination and ehcroacA-
mont of a larger number Of voters
throughout the county in which they
are situated. who are not taxed TO
maintain municipal or corporatO gov
eminent and have no more right under
the statute and the constitution Of
controlling or shaping the Affairs Of
those towns and villages than has the
city Of Kearney to dominate and vote
upon the affairs Of Raveana or Shell
ton. The plan Of county option is to
have the county dominate the city Of
Kearney. providing county option
should receive q majority Of the votes
within the county. but permit Kear-
ney to work out its own salvation II
q majority Of the votes within the
county should be cast against county
option. Kearney always has. and we
believe always will be perfectly able
to understand its own afPairs-what 1t
wants and what it does not want
what II can afford and what 1t cannot
a6ord-better than the voters of L0-
gan township do or can"
LoUp CITY sTANDARo-cAUoE.
The saloons closed their doors at
noon Tuesday. their license having
expired. 1t has been a dry town
since. but every one seems to satisfy
their thirst as they did when the sa-
looms were open. Just the other
evening q case of the best that money
can buy came in from Kansas City.
Does that look like you can shut It
out of the city? 1t will be had when
it is desired no matter how the Wa
ter Apostles" arrange matters. 30 let
'em 30.
SCHUYLER FREE LANCE.
Hon. John C. Sprecher, editor Of the
Schuyler Free Lance. In . recent is
sue of his interesting and ably-edited
paper. says:
THE leading business firms and in
dividuals Of Omaha have organized
what is known as the Merchants and
Manufacturers association for the ex-
press purpose of fighting not alone pro-
hibition in this state. but county Op-
ton a. well. And those business
men are not brewers nor distillers nor
saloon keepers nor "boOzers," but are
the leading business men Of Omaha
who know the serious effect upon bu-
siness prohibition has and also realize
that county option Is unfair. They
favor the present SlOcumb law. which
is fair to all elements and permits the
majority of any community to rule.
That association has q press bureau
and that bureau is sending out litera-
ture a. we'll as furnishing the local
press with articles and plate matter.
So far as the association and its mis-
sion are concerned. the Free Lance
editor is in harmony with them and
their opposition to prohibition and
county option Is in accord with u.s. We
agree In general with the matter.
which is simply presenting their side
Of the question.
IoUP CITY STANDARD GAUGE.
Every voter should clearly under
stand the situation andif he wants a
law passed that allows his neighbOr
miles away to tell him what to do |
then he should vote for the represen- |
tative or senator that will pass 1t. II
he desires to govern himself and |
grant the other man the same right |
then elect a man who is against cou2- |
ty option. Don't be fooled on the |
word local option. we have that
county option destroys that privilege.
Suppose the fight that the fanatics are
making for county option is defeated
at the polls. what have they lost? Not
one privilege. or power: but II they
win. they have succeeded In winding |
the people in one more mesh called /
law. that robs you of your liberty.
Don't forget that your liberties are
easily given away. but once gone are
mighty hard to recover.
HASTINGS TRIBUNE.
That you may better understand
just what these $50 business men are
praying for We print a copy of their
petition. which follows:
I'VE. the undersigned citizens and
business men of Hastings. Neb.. recog-
nizinp the imDerativo necessity NJ CON-