The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-06-03

suggested compromise Of high license.
Did l know that there would be 4
third more drunkenness under prohi'
bition than under license, should
still insist that Maine can better~serve
the interests of temperance by keep
ing rum under the ban of the law
than make a recognizing business.
I'm other words the governor thinks
of temperance is to uphold and con-
tinue system that makes the people
intemperant Comment on such a
view is unnecessary. This is fair
example of the prohibition logic /
have come in contact with prohibit
tionists for many years. have read
their literature and / know how they
talk and think-I take that back,
THEY DON'T THINK-and l know
the sentiment expressed by Governor
Powers, is shared by the average pro-
hibitionists.
Now just how much can be accom-
plished by the legislation in the way
Of lessening the evil of intemperance
and what kind Of excise system
should effect the best results. is a
matter that can be determined only
by experience Undoubtedly great
deal more may be done than has ever
yet been done by improving our ex-
else system and especially by more
vigorous and persistent enforcement
of our present excise law. But we
should move forward intelligently and
cautiously.
The Law as Two-Edged Sword.
Temperance reform can never he
advanced by the blare of trumpets.
We must bear in mind that legisla-
tion is a two-edged sword. Wise laws
can do much, and unwise laws, no
matter how good the intent may be
can do a great deal of harm. A law
that is unreasonably stringent and
harsh not only defeats it's own ends
but causes many evils that did not
exist in the first instance. This is
especially true in the case of the laws
that effect mans habits and tastes.
ain my Judgment, II would be in
finiteiy better to have no liquor law
at all than to have prohibtory law.
But, even an ideal excise law is
worthless unless the people see that
the law is properly enforced. Law
enforcement is really the key to the
solution of the liquor problem as far
as the legislature is concerned. II the
people are either too impotent or too
Indifferent to have a reasonable law
enforced l do not see what help there
is for them.
Experience has taught Us how fool
ish it is to leave the matter of law
enforcement wholly to the public Of
flcials. These men are only the SER
wants of the people and it is the bus
mess of the people to watan their ser
wants and see that they perform their
duty.
"To denounce the law-breaker,
whether the saloonkeeper or the rail-
road corporation, is simply waste
of breath. The thing to do is to stop
the lawbreaking and to punish the
law-breakers OF course, everybody
SiOGlu ODSy the law NilliOuI DSlu6
forced to do SO, but we happen TO be
living in a world where everybody does
not do as he ought. The great trou-
Bile in this country is that the people
pay too much attention to the law
making and too little to the law-en-
| forcement.
This is an American weakness. 1t
is too often assumed that when law
has been enacted the whole legisla-
tive work has been accomplished,
whereas it is just at this point tnrt
the real work must begin.
"The real solution of the liquor
problem in It's legislative aspect lies
in the strict and honest enforcement
of reasonable and practicable IL
cense law and not the enactment OF
an outlandisn and preposterous pro-
hibitory law.