Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-09-10

ideas and the upbuilding of their insti-
tutions. Nationality is the least OF
their troubles. 1t is votes they want
| When the German-American people
come to understand the game which
the brewery interests are playing
through their organization, known as
| the German alliance, they viii have
no desire TO become their cat's-paW
under this cry Of personal liberty.
| Now in order that there snail be no
misunderstanding relative to the ques
ton that is going to come before the
next legislature, and that the people
may have ample time to consider it,
shall offer 10 the coming republican
platform convention the following
plank:
Proposed Liquor Plank.
1--WE believe that the low license
system governing the sale Of intox1cat-
ing liquors in this state has long since
become obsolete and inadequate 10
regulate and control the traffic, accord
ing to the standard and desire Of the
people Of this day and age.
That the brewery interests have
taken advantage of the low license re.
gime, and now own or control a large
percentage Of the retail business.
operating the same under the hired
man system, a system which destroys
Individual responsibility, and .propa-
gates a class Of undesirable saloons
and unreliable saIoonkeepers.
That the revenue derived from sa-
loon licenses has not been fairly and
impartiaIIy distributed. Towns, vii
lagos and cities have received the Ii
cense money, while the counties have
been taxed for the largest per cent o.
expenses.
That the voters of the towns, vii
lagos and cities Iegalize and control
the retail liquor business, receiving
and dispensing all license revenue, for
the benefit of said local government
while the burden of taxation is thrown
upon the entire county, making the
taxpayer Of said county responsible
for the awful expense attached to the
liquor traffic; taxed without voice Or
vote for the prosecution and mantle
nance Of criminals, the care and pro
lection Of paupers, feeble minded and
insane, traced directly and indirectly
10 the use Of intoxicating liquor. This
Unfair and unreasonable license sys-
TEN should be stricken from the stat
ute books and abolished from the
state, for it is eminentIy fair and just
that taxation should not be imposed
without presentation.-that no IL
cense should be issued that does not
carry with it a financial consideration
Of deep and lasting Impression 10
those who engage in the business
That high license increases the
revenue, reduces the number of sa-
looms and makes men who operate
them personally responsible and more
careful. We therefore ask that the
next legislature of this state pass 4
bill giving the legal voters Of each
and every county an opportunity Of ex-
pressing their desire by ballot whether
the saloon business shall be conducted
in the counties or not. We also ask
that the neyt legislature pass a nigh Ii
cense bill, relative to the sale Of in
Intoxicating liquors, with a mini
mum Of not less than $1,000 in all
towns, villages and cities, not less
than 25 per cent of said license -av-
enue to be paid into the county treas
Ury Of the county in which said license
is grarJCd, to the end that justice and
fairness shall prevail and the will of
the majority govern
This, adds Senator Barker, is ''the
plank and the issue. If this plank
represents honesty and fairness and
meets with your approcal, I appeal 10
YOU as American citizens, regardless
of the land Of your birth or your ma
tionality, to stand firm in support of
this plank and petition and labor
with your delegates to the platform
convention to work and vote for
the same and make this plank one
of the great principles in the platform
o. republican ideas"