Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-01-22
NEED OF REFORMED SALOON
President of License League Says Peo-
pie Do Not Want Prohibition.
PLAN TO REMOVE MANY EVILS
Would Have Perpetual Permit, Re-
yokable Only by Vote or for Law
VioIatIons-Argue Against
Treating Habit.

LOUISVILLE, KY, Jan. A.-"The people
do not want prohibition. but they want
reform, and when we prove that we, too,
want reform, when we gain the confidence
of the public, the prohibition wave will re-
cede and the Anti-Saloon league will find
it's occupation gone" SO declared Presi-
dent Gilmore of the National Model Ii
cense league in his address at the conven-
ton of that organization today. Mr.. Gill
more discussed reform movements and the
prohibition wave, which he declared to be
a protest against things that ought not to
be. against conditions that ought not to
continue. Mr. Gilmore said he salts
fled that the prohibition movement will
ultimately result in good to the liquor trade
and to society, but he insisted that 1t
should be carried along in a less radical
way and that the reforms desired should
be brought about without such tremendous
losses as are being entailed through the
passage of prohibitory laws.
THE people of this country do not want
prohibition" he insisted, nor do they want
the saloon unless the saloon is properly
conducted.
Good and Bad Saloons.
THE saloon, II properly conducted, is a
very good convenience, but the saloon that
is run in connection with gambling, and
that violates law, and that sells to minors
and to men who are intoxicated, is Ger
tainly out of touch with civilization; It is
an offense to modern thought and 1t should
be stamped out by mandatory penalty
that is absolutely merciless in its proW-
sions."
MIR. Gilmore said that II the saloon
should be permanently abolished it will be
found necessary to provide a substitute,
/ because the strenuous life incident 10
modern civilization demands a place OF
relaxation, where friend can meet friend.
and where worries and cares and respon-
| abilities OF life may for the time being,
be put aside.
THE Anti-Saloon league" he continued,
is not advocating prohibition. and TO one
who is familiar with the situation all OF
this talk about dry territory is nothing
more than an absurdity. There is no dry
territory in this country. although there
are a number of states and a great many
counties, asgregatlng in area probably
one-half OF the United States, in which
| laws have been adopted prohibiting the
sale, and in some cases the manufacture
OF alcoholic beverages. law merely
prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages
| however, can not affect the purchase and
use Of alcoholic beverages any more thar
law that might prohibit the sale OF
cigars would affect the consumption oi
| cigars"
Big shipments TO Dry states.
The speaker said that since the passag,
of prohibition laws in such states az
Georgia and Oklahoma shipments o
whisky and OF beer to these states hav,
been phenomenally large This he at
| tributed to the fact that people who, under
a license system, would never keep whisk,
in their homes. are persuaded 10 buy a
least four bottles through fear that II
case Of dire need they would not be abl,
! to secure II In time.
we contend said he. that It is abso
iutely essential TO the solution Of thI
problem that all licenses to retail louor
shall continue in this country as they con
tinue In Europe-that is, that the saloon
keepers license TO do business shall con
tinue without any possible interference, o
any power OF cancellation, unless II be b,
a majority vote OF the people OF else b.
conviction in a court of competent Juris
diction of the violation OF law.
"a license Of this character would i'm
mediately remove the saloon keeper from
the realm OF politics; It would save hin
from the demands OF the blackmailer; 1
would give him a feeling OF permanenc,
and a desire to conduct a business that 1
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