The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1908-01-23
TEMPERANCE
Is MAIN TOPIC
LEGISLATURE Is DEEPLY ABB
soRBED IN QUESTION.
AGREEING ON TEXT OF BILL
Liquor Men Trying to Postpone Limit
Until January First of Next Year.
Governor Signs Bill Reducing the
Treasurers' Bond.


The temperance question or the
movement to enact a prohibitory Ii
quor law for the entire state is for
the time being, absorbing the entire
attention of the legislature.
The Hobbies are full of representa-
tives of the w. C. r. U. headed by
Mrs. Kells, state president, and also
prominent men identified with the
cause.
For the first time in the history Of
the state the temperance people have
the legislature al to themselves and
they are making the most of it and
evidently enjoy the novelty of the SEN
sation and the feeling of power.
AT one time before the legislature
got together, the liquor men contem-
plated making the same sort of fight
as they have made in the past three
or four legislatures. A strong delega-
tion of liquor men composed of sa-
loonmen from Natchez ana other IL
quor cities of the state, and also
committee of the National Liquor
Dealers Association, came to Jack
son on the day the legislature open
ed.
hey were met by two or three train
ed liquor lobbyists, and spent a few
days looking over the field and feel
ing out the ground. They made a
careful poll of the House and. found
that it was practically unanimous
against the liquor traffic, only three
or four members being for it. The
situation in the senate was found to
be almost as bad After counting the
noses in the senate only possible
fourteen out of forty-fve could be
set down for the traffic, and of these
fourteen nearly half were doubtful
and wavering with chances that pres
sure would turn them.
The lobby was promptly disbandel
and the liquor delegation threw up
the sponge. The president of the Ma
tional Liquor Dealers Association
was en- route here at the time, but
turned back to New York at Louis
vile.
Since the committee of the two
houses set next Thursday for hearing
both sides of the case, the liquor men
have been putting in all their time
IN an effort to have the law prohibit
ing the sale made effective on Janua-
ry ! next, or at least to exempt the
present license holders of the state
who have paid their money in goo!
faith for years business from the
operation of the bill during the life
Of their license.
This proposition made by the liq-
uor men has been met with two alter
natives. The w. C. T. U. oppose it
and offer as substitute to refund
the balance Of the license money and
close the saloons at once. The women
say they are afraid of constitution
al amendment making it unconstitu-
tioriaf ITO pass law licensing liquor
traffic, and which they propose to
have submitted by the legislature, so
long as the saloons are running
They fear that the saloon men will
debauch the ballot with free liquor
TO defeat such an amendment.
On the other han1, the prohibition
men say that as they have absolute
power, they can afford to be generous,
and that the landlords who rent to
saloons are entitled TO some consid-
Grafton and should have time to get
other tenants. They, therefore, pro-
pose to make the statute effective on
June / and then refund the balance
of license money due for the re-
mainder of the license year Some
prohibition members favor postponing
the law until Sept. 1 AMI then refund
ing license money
The only questions being consider
ed therefore, are the kind of bill and
date it is to be made effective.
OIC PlONlSiOH Ol Tue Ulll WHICH
seems to be the most in favor by the
committee is that pure alcohol can
be sold and kept by druggists for
medical and mechanical purposes.
This provision may precipitate fight
since diluted alcohol with simple
syrup is favorite with topers who
arc cut off from thair reoular dran
But no matter what difference of
opinion may arise over trifling de-
tails, it is certain that drastic bill
will be passed, and that after it is
passed, the committee will draft an
open statute against unlawful retail
ing that will terrify at thousand
yards.
State Fair Boosters.