The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-10

SALOON
With an Odd Phrase From the Laws or
almost Every State"

WIN al uoAl u bbC EEVhF thO LAWS u
almost Every State"
To THEEpIroR OF The SuN-Sr: H. D.
has made some remarks In THE Sun on
the Finances of Prohibition" All persons
familiar with the modern method OF TEN per-
ance reform are likewise familiar with all
the arguments advanced In support Of the
liquor trafic and the liquor tax. The con-
tention IL always raised that ours Is an inc
briated form Of prosperity and that Ameri-
can citizens will not support their en-
lightened Government unless they can pay
their tribute indir ectly and receive Q recon-
that directly follow from the continued
ira nc in Into xicating liquors.
The eophistry that lies at the basis Of the
shall suiier q decrease in revenues e found
10 the seeming BELIEF that all these avenues
chat come from the LIQUOR traffic are as in
n %snn. was indepen SeGa'e Q, the W. Wands s.hns
lsrselites. Should we stop ong enough 10
ASK the question who furnishes this reve-
Here Is IN Illustration that Is apropos a
well rs historic. When the Spanish Am
a war began the brewers Association
expressed. their patriotic virtues by declsr;
ing that they were the true and unailoyed
band Of patriots in this country. for they
OF dire necessity by submitting to an addi-
tionAl tax OF 81 a barrel OF beef, brewed;
After this testimonial to themselves and
agreed that the selling price OF beer should
be- increased 81 q barrel. Next In line comes
the retail Liquor Dealers Association. VINO
virtue than that occupied by the brewers;
1 hey declared tnat they were the true and
genuine patriots because they were COM
peiled to pay 81 more for each barrel Of beer
purchased and were an that way both sup
porting tho Government and paying the
tax imposed upon. the brewers. Before
II mi n nd Al - una man
mously decided that tho size of the glass
OF beer should be diminished as long as
the Government imposed the 81 a harrel
Who paid the beer tax to support the Govern
ment in the Spsnish-American war,
The history Of the localities 10 the States
Justify tho contention that saloon revenues
arc tho main support Of the Government.
Five years ago. when Ohio increased tho
out grSetly diminishing the number Of
saloons all the unenlishtened anticipated
That property taxes would decrease. ne
because q saloon that pays 1900 tax
II Win DO compelled to break more Jaws. sell
TO make up the added tax imposed.
II this Government, state or national:
% not worthy OF support in some form OF
then the sooner. il passes from the catalogue
Of nations tho better. The Supreme Court
OF the United States said many years ago.
and has never retractod the utterance.
that III = io:s Of revenue should accrue
consumption Of ardent spirits she will 30
the gamer. Q thousandfold, in tho health.
wealth and happiness OF the people"
Wore We to stop long enough In the con-
alteration Of this question Of taxation to
ask ourselves why any tax Is imposed upon
the aaloon, The answer TO our question
% nssihls' 30 va as.d PIER IL To q Sefe ssesos of ..iooa
say that tho saloons are taxed to provide
against the evils resulting from tho tranic
In Intoxicating liquors" Saloon revenues
arc nothing o than an attempt upon
the part Of the Government TO recover .
mite sum IL reoompense for the innnlto
No one 10 oontending. hat the ideal con-
ditton has been attained In any prohibition
state or nc license community. but the
In such States and communities
do. show that where the people have the
privilege Of home rule on the LIQUOR ques-
the recent public hearing upon the city
option bill at Albany. Mr.. Forster.
the attorney for the New York brewers.
that drunkenness leads to crime:
In the next breath he was inveiGhing against
The failure Of prohibition In Maine, Ihe
sranf.n ansse did l s.% q sy o rG%i'' and . .sid
hat the State Of Maine furnished the pitt
'ully emall number Of three homieides our.
the last year. whereas In the whole
United States there were 0 $50 murders,
JAMEs Albert PATTERSON,
Superintendent New York A~nti-Saloon
Nv LsaSSs: