Semi-weekly herald., 1908-02-17
THE PROHIBITION WAVE.

That the liquor traffic is going to
be an issue in Colorado this fall is
| certain The wave is spreading
| throughout the country, although re.
ports indicate an increased consump.
tion OF spirituous liquors. And the
main reason for the uprising is the
fact that so many saloonkeepers per.
| sist in violating the laws of the land.
| If dealers in liquor would obey the
| letter of the law they would not find
| such strenuous opposition. The state
law provides for Sunday and midnight
closing OF saloons. but how many lit
| orally obey this law? We know that
| number of Durango saloonkeepers
are in favor of strict observance, but
on the other hand others do not try
to obey the law. II is this kind of
defiance that is arousing the people
of the land and the saloonkeeper
brings most of his troubles about by
persisting in violating the law. Take
Pueblo, for instance. Last Saturday
36 of the saloonkeepers signed clos
ing agreement and urged that all the
liquor interests follow suit, but ma
jority refused to even give the mat
have the papers jumping on their
backs and this means agitation and
encouraging the anti-saloon league to
active work. Just why some men en-
gagged in the liquor traffic persist in
violating the law is hard to under
stand when they must-or should
know that it operates against them in
the long run. That the issue is recog.
nized it is only necessary to refer to
the action of the convention of whole
sale dealers and manufacturers at
their recent session at Louisville, KY,
in which the following model license"
was unanimously advocated, and read
ers will note the emphasis placed on
violation of the law-suspension 80
days for the first offense and cancel
lation for the second and blacklisted
thereafter in the state. Wonder how
many Colorado saloonkeepers would
retain their licenses If the model
license" prevailed. Here it is:
First-All licenses now outstanding
to continue in force unless Cancelled
hv majority of voters.
These licenses should be transfer
able from one to another. as any 9TH
er property is transferred, or left, as
part of the estate as the good will
of any other business may be left
This form of license is similar to that
enjoyed by all other lines of trade,
and If granted to the retail liquor deal
ers. it will, in our opinion, remove
them at once from active participation
in politics. Under the present system
the saloonkeeper Is at the mercy of
the political boss, and of the author
tiles elected or appointed for the pur-
pose of issuing licenses each year.
and as long as this continues he must
of necessity remain an active factor
in all political fights.
Second-No license should be Is
sued in the future until the proper
ton become not more than one for
each 500 population, and thereafter
they should be issued in such proper
tion as society or convenience de
manded.
Third-A license should yield good
annual return to the government, but
it should not be excessive for several
reasons; principally because 1t en-.
courages, and in some cases almost
compels the handling of impure
liquors, the sale of alcoholic beverages
to intoxicated men and to minors, and
the violation of laws in regard to
closing at certain hours, etc.
If society imposes upon the saloon
keeper, the saloonkeeper will impose
upon society.
Fourth-All licenses to retail liquor
should be clear. unambiguous con-
tracts. between the state and the in
dividual, and they should provide
that conviction first offense) of the
violation of law, should carry with II
a thirty days suspension of the bus
mess of the licensee. and the second
conviction should work immediate
cancellation, and furthermore that the
holder could never be licensed again
to retail liquors in that state.
Fffth-A penalty should be provided
in all laws governing the retail liquor
trade against any minor over IS who
represents himself to be of age in or
der to procure intoxicants.
One year and six months is the
| time that Charles II. Keesee will have