The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-12-26
Voiceof the People

Dec. %, 1908.
Editor, THE TIMES. Hammond. Ind,
Dear Sir-The indications being that
at the next session of the legislature
of Indiana model license law govern
ing the manufacture and sale of alco-
holic beverages in the state of Indiana
will be considered, a brief discussion
of the model license law now being adj
vocated by the National Model License
league will be of special interest. we
think, to your readers.
II should be stated at the outset
that the objects and purposes of the
model license law are to take the liquor
question out of politics and to take
the lawbreaker out of the liquor bust
ness.
The liquor question should not be a
political factor. The mere fact that a
man favors or opposes the use of alco-
holic beverages should not be deemed
a qualification for discharging the du-
ties incumbent upon holders of public
Office.
Law-breaking, in connection with the
sale of alcoholic beverages, is injurious
to the trade as a whole and to society
generally. For this reason, the Ma
tional Model License league, repre-
lsenting the manufacturers of and
dealers in alcoholic beverages, feels
justified in calling on all good citizens
for cooperation in the effort to pass
a law eliminating the law-breakers.
Prohibition has VIGOROUSLY failed to
take the liquor question out of politics
or to take the law-breaker out of the
lliouor business On the other hand
prohibition agitation has made the IL
louor question an important factor in
Ipolitics and has put a premium on vio-
llation of the law.
Model license law differs from or
/ binary license law in that model IL
lcense law puts a premium on gooe
behavior and provides absolutely GER
tain penalties for violation of th'
law. Under model license law th'
lfquor dealer is permitted to conduc
Ibis business so long as he abides by
the law.
Model license law provides that al
licenses in effect at the time of tn
passage of the model license law shall
remain in effect until suspended o
Cancelled because of violation of tn
law. Under the operation of model Ii
cense law if there are too many sa
looms in a given city the number will
: be cut down automatically, because to
much competition would force some o
the saloons out of business because o
t lack of profit or because of violation Q
: law.
: Model license law stipulates that n
new licenses shall be issued until tn
, population is in the proportion of (say
: five hundred inhabitants to each saloo
license. This restriction would max
1.-THE license very valuable by prevent
ling undue competition. The create
the value of the license the less dispo
:. sition there would be on the part Q
the license holder to risk the forfeit
. ure of his license through any viola
ton of the law
The National Model License leagu
does not advocate excessive high j
: tcense. The license should be sufticier
a to yield a good revenue to the cit
n and state. but it should not be so hig
h as to compel the holder of icens
: 10 handle inferior merchandise in OF
: der to make a reasonable profit
ii For the protection of the deale
h model license law includes claus
e providing a penalty for any minor ovs
lis wears of age, who shall claim to
of age in order to purchase alcohol
beverages. without this clause VI
IA tscrupulous .reformers'' would resort
tho use of boys between the ages of
Il land 81 in order to make out case
< violation of the law against the sa
II of liquor to minors, as has been dol
a so often under the law which pr
lvides no means of Furnishing the min