The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1909-01-15


local rule by municipal author
ity.
On the liquor question his most
pronounced statement was that
"the saloons and liquor interests must
obey the latos of the state" This was
said in a manner which left no
room for speculation as to the
sincere purpose of the governor to
enforce every law pertaining to
the liquor business-to the saloons
especially. 1t was an emphatic
reiteration of what he said in
every campaign speech he made
in the cities as well as in the
rural communities, and gave sc-
we're rebuke to Democrats who
claimed during the campaign, and
have said since, that he had one
speech on this subject for the
country and one for the cities.
w hen he made his declarations
as governor he was in the hearing
of leading representatives of the
saloon and liquor interests, and
they went away without the least
doubt in their minds that the lid
will be kept on wherever it has
been put on, and that it will be
put on where it has not been here
tofore established. He further
said that "the active participation
OF the representatives of these in
terests in political affairs for the
purpose of domination and control
is one of the evils incident TO the
liquor traffic with which it is nee
essary to deal. "The brewer and
distiller, should, by law, be strict
~ confined to the business the law
permits them TO conduct" And
he said, with emphasis, to the law
makers to whom his remarks
were directed, 81 recommend
therefore that you pass a law
which will secure the complete
separation of the brewery and the
saloon, the one from the other"
Such a suggestion does not indi-
cate that the Democrats were we'll
informed when they claimed that
the Republican candidate for gov
ornor had entered into an agree
ment with the brewer and liquor
interests of the cities.
Following these striking remarks
about the liquor traffic and the
methods proposed for regulating
it he made bold stroke at the lid
clubs which flourish in some of the
cities and towns and recommend
ed Legislation under which every
club which dispenses liquors to its
members may be required to pay
a license, and that clubs organized
specially for dispensing liquors
may be abolished absolutely.
He expressed doubt about the
W isdom of ward local option fol
cities, but suggested that district:
in cities may be created in which
the saloon may be abolished o.
refused license; His every decla'
ration concerning the regulation O
the liquor traffic was in harmony
with the most advanced sentimen
in this state, and his declaration
that his party as we'll as the Demo
cratic party, is against statewide
prohibition was Iclear and salts
factory.
On law enforcement the govern
or said one thing that indicates tn
methods he proposes to employ il
contradistinction to methods here
tofore employed or evoked. Sal,
he, "There will be no backward
step during my administration il
the enforcement of the laws o
this state which I, or those whom
I appoint to Office, are charge'
with the duty of enforcing. An,
all that I can legally do / will dc
in execution of my constitutions
powers, as chief executive, to Sc
thatr other executive officers i
counties and cities OF the state d
|, what they should do to enforce tn
laws which come within the scop
, Of their Official duties. But it is i'm
portant to understand that it ss neus
, right to violate the laso, or to use OF