Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-24
Notice to the Business Men
Of Washington.

believe that the people have as
mitch right to quarantine the liquor
traffic as they have to quarantine the
smallpox, if they believe it is an
evil. To my mind, one of the great
est dangers of a prohibition law is
the fact that the difficulty OF It's
enforcement would tend to weaken
the respect for law. To put dead
letter upon the statute books would
inevitably make people think less OF
law. That respect for law is one of
the finest traits of the American
people. The respect for law is In
ev:table because the people make
their own laws
We heartily indorse these views.
and therefore we condemn any
movement which attempts to impose
upon people of this District views
OF those who do not live here or
pay taxes here. and who would re-
sent any attempt on the part of the
ps ople of this District to NEEDLE i'll
their home affairs. We hold that
the Commissioners of the District OF
Columbia a,e the proper authorities
for addressing Congress as to the
needs of this District The Commits
sioners have an opportunity to ascer-
tain the wishes of the people. and
they are the proper spokesman of the
people. If the people do not demand
any change in existing law. and ii
the Commissioners do not represent
to Congress that any change of law
is necessary or desirable, We d2ny
the right of non-residents to impose
upon us what they think We should
have. whether we want it or not
Inasmuch as no one advocates the
granting of thu franchise to the peo-
pie of this District. we DO not expect
or demand that the liquor question
shall De left to vote of the inhab-
itants The reasons for denying the
suffrage to the people of this Dis
trict are we'll known. and we agree
that they are sufficient. We believe
that great majority of the people
of this District are opposed to prohi-
bition, and would vote against any
change of the existing liquor laws.
but We recognize the obstacles in the
way of granting them an opportunity
TO vote.
8 The right of local option exists in
full. vigor in this District. Under the
laws as they now exist. no saloon
can be established or maintained in
any locality in which a majority of
the property owners and residents
are opposed to it. The consent of
a majority of the property owners is
required before saloon license can
he granted. Your honorable body is
aware of the fact that some com
munities in this city have refused to
permit saloons to be established in
their midst The other commune
ties, all of them, have the
right TO take the same action.
There is no denial of the right of
local option. but. on the other hand,
local option is in full effect. There
is no necessity therefore, for new
laws on the preteXt that they will
grant local option to the people here.
Under the pretense of granting local
option it may easily happen that the
people actually will be deprived Of
local option. and be forced to accept
what other people may choose to
give them.
4. There should be no attempt 10
enforce prohibition in the Capital of
the United States. Washington is
one of the worlds centers, in which
sojourners from all other parts of the
world are received and welcomed.
These sojournerS bring with them
customs of their respective coun-
tries. and they have the right to OBJ
serve any of these customs which do
not infringe upon the rights OF
others. While no prohibition law
could affect the households of the
representatives of foreign countries.
We believe it would be impossible and
unwise to attempt to enforce prohibit
ton everywhere in Washington ex-
cepting the embassies and legations.
We firmly believe with Bishop Sat
terlee and others that such an att
tempt would result in failure. and
thus tend to weaken the respect for
law. If it is impossible to enforce
prohibition in American cities which
are homogeneous. and which may
have favored such a law, how much
more difficult would it be to enforce
it in a cosmopolitan. city whose in
habitants were denied the right to
express themselves on the subject?
=. A change in existing law would
ness interests of Washington. with
out benefit to any one. a prohibl-
ton law would change the character
OF liquor shipments to this city,
making an unlawful traffic and pro-
noting crime. Instead of beirg car
ried on under the eye of the law. as
is now the case. the liquor business
would be an outlaw. and. like all out
laws, it would be danger to society.
The reasonable and moderate use of
liquor by the mass of tho people
would be interrupted and excuses
would he the rule. with consequent
increase of drunkenness and crime.
This is no mere prediction. but is
the experience of every large Getty
that has tried prohibition. The bust
ness people of Washington do not
wish to see an increase of crime here.
with inc eased taxation in it's train.
In behalf of these interests. the
respectfully prays that your honor
able body will report to Congress
that existing laws for the regulation
of the liquor traffic are satisfactory
to the people of this District and
should not be changed in any partic-
ular. The same considerations which
induced your honorable body to re-
port adversely TO a proposed change
in the liquor laws last year now ap-
rlv with even great r force.
Respectfully submitted.
THE, WASHINGTON MERCAN-
TILE ASSOCIATION.
ask YOU TO use them talk them. cir
culate them, and call them to the
attention of your friends in and out
of Congress. Let Congress know
that there is an overwhelming sentl-
ment against prohibition in this Dis
trict. In that way We may be able
to prevent the enactment of law
that would deprive us o. control of
our own affairs.
If you have any suggestions to
make that will aid us in this cam
paign. send them to us. Drop us
line assuring us that you are in
accord with us. Every good word
helps
Yours respectfully
THE WASHINGTON MERCAN-
TILE ASSOCIATION. National