The Detroit times., 1909-03-29
sTANDsF0k STRICT
''REGULAT|0N OF
LIQUOR TRADE
BREWERY ASSOCIATION OFF,
cIAL. HERE TO FIGHT pRoHIsI-
TON. WOULD TURN WAVE OF
HYsrERiAv TO GOOD ACCOUNT.

We aim not only 10 check the wave
OF hysteria which is going through the
country but 10 turn Il to some good
account"
This is the way that Hugh +. Fox.
OF Plainfeld \. j.. reformer. sociologi
cal student and leader OF charitable
works In his own state. sums mp the
disposition OF the National Association
of Brewers toward the prohibitory
movement Mr.. Fox is secretary OF
the Brewers association, and he is ia
Michigan 10 deliver addresses. FROM
the standpoint of the progressive ele-
ment In the brewing industry, in Bat
tie Greek and Ann Arbor.
Mr.. Fox is an advocate Of strict reg
ulation of the liquor trade. OF laws
that win tend TO diminish the evils Of
the business as they now exist. and
he is very much opposed TO prohibi-
ton.
Since 1882, MIR. Fox has been hon
merchant. Travelling about the coun-
try he saw the evils OF the liquor bust-
ress and its disadvantages, and stud
led the various plans for regulation
and their working out. He criticized
the brewers as being asleep TO the
needs of their business. Then the
brewers, who have Weakened 10 action
In their own behalf, offered this critic
their secretaryship.
He is a graduate Of an English col
lege. is a member of the National Mu-
,nicipal league. the National Congress
of Charities and Corrections and other
sociological societies. has been
prominent figure in the anti-child Ia
Dor movement and is president OF the
local board in New Jersey which looks
after dependent children. He is en-
deavoring now to get the various So
cial welfare organizations to study the
liouor question so that the temper
ance sentiment OF the country may re-
suit In permanent improvement In
( stead of laws which he considers will
be too stringent and temporary in ef.
feet.
"If this is not done, the present SEN
timent will wear itself out and reac-
ton occur" he says.
The organized temperance move
ment is highly capitalized. II works
In communities where the people will
pay the freight Regulation of the IL
quor traffic must be as elastic as the
government itself; IL Is municipal
problem.
"The bad saloon is the product OF
careless legislation, inefficient local
government and OF trade conditions
for which the brewers are themselves
partially responsible. Under the laws
of some states. almost anyone can get
a saloon license. This Is careless.
Too many saloons are allowed; this
Is due to business expansion in past
years. Under such laws all the state
seeks is revenue.
"A saloon license is a franchise.
The man who holds il is entitled to
protection from competition. Putting
two saloons on corner does not In
crease the consuming capacity in the
block; 1t makes the saloonist use vari-
GUS means to make a living.
An unenforceable saloon law in
vites graft.
THE county is an unfair and un-
workable unit for local option. Where
& town has voted wet and the county
dry II is up TO the town to enforce
the law with diminished revenues.
The brewers are less interested In
the country trade and that of the
south. Beer must be cooled to sell
and that can be done only In towns
as yet. The trade in those localities
il largely a whisky and ale trade.
The reclamation of the south will
come through laws allowing the sale
OF licenses for liquors. The beer traf.
fic should be separated from the
whisky trade where possible.
County option has never been sue
cessful except In counties entirely ru-
raj,
$50 long as. beer and. strong liquor
are sold In the same premises. the
strafflc has got 10 be under very strong
social control"
I, Fox considers that the Ormsbee bill
introduced in the Michigan legislature
lis very drastic, and ventured the
suspicion that this had caused retail
liquor dealers to work against It, a
statement which is confirmed by the
Michigan Brewers association.