The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-18
THE AN7I-SALOON LEAGUE AND
COUNTY OPTION

1t is significant that no sooner ha6
the State Supreme Court handed down
favorable decision on the legality oil
the county local option law than a
storm arose. Ennis Fl. Barney, super
intendent of the thirty-o counties OF
the Indianapolis district, has resigned
because he could not agree with w. E
S. Shumaker as to prohibition. The
latter believes that the time is right
for state wide prohibitory measure.
1t has not been long since it was an.
nounced by the radical side of the
league, that county local option is a
failure" because certain Massachu-
sets towns which had voted dry have
voted wet and vice versa. This point
of view is not shared by the liquor
dealers and liberal forces who view
county local option as a most success
full method of destroying their business
and in which they rarely see any JUS
tice.
II it be that the middle ground is
apt to be the true cne-it is sad, but
somewhat convincing that the radicals
of both sides are not satisfied with
county local option
II we are to have regulation of the
liquor business it would seem that we
have a pretty complete method of reg
have behaved themselves are still be-
having themselves. The places where
the saloon has provoked popular dis
approval. the saloon no longer pro-
vokes. And in those places where the
saloon is not altogether pleasing. but
where it is tolerated as an institution
and individually disliked i'm the resi-
dence district-the individual is re-
moved.
This being SO. it would seem that
Indiana comes very near to satisfying
the majority of the people. The ex-
tremists on the opposing sides are not
pleased, If a majority of the people
of the counties want the saloon elimi-
mated they will be eliminated The
Anti-Saloon league is unwise to find
fault with the most successfully work
Ing law We have had, simply because
all the counties do not go dry.
BY letting the matter rest and work
ing under the ample provisions of the
law they will turn the state dry more
effectually than by introducing an
amendment to the constitution phohib-
ting the liquor business. That even
in event of its successful issue would
be SO drastic that the inevitable reac-
ton would set in
The great mass of the people. those
who want hand in settling the cues
ton for themselves, will not look kind
ly on either the brewers nor the anti
saloon forces If they openly admit that
they are not willing to allow them to
decide this themselves under the pres
ent law.
County local option. apart from the
fact that it is matter of controversy.
because it is applied to the liquor ques
ton. is doing good in another way.
1t is the initiative and referendum,
and as such will sooner or later be ap
piled to all sorts of questions-first in
witness the
Des Moines Plan dealing with franchis-
es. Next with all state laws and final
ly-it is to be hoped with natural sub
jects. No amount of argument from
fanatics on either side can shake the
value of submitting questions to a vote.
This is much greater force for good
than statutory prohibition followed by
a reaction and law evasions
DIR. Cook will continue to observe