Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-23
SALOON TOPIC OF
LICENSE LEAGUE
PRESIDENT GILMORE SAYS
LIQUOR BUSINESS MUST BE
REFORMED FROM WITHIN

Louisville, KY. jan 21.-"The peo-
pie do not want prohibition, but they
want reform, and when we prove
that we, too, want reform, when we
gain the confidence of the public, the
prohibition wave will recede and the
nti-Saloon league will find its occu-
patton gone" So declared President
Gilmore of the National Model License
league, in his address at the conven-
ton of that organization today. Mr.
Gilmore discussed reform movements
and the prohibition wave which he de.
clared to be a protest against things
that ought not to be; against condi-
lions that ought not to continue. Mr..
Gilmore said he was satisfied that the
prohibition movement will ultimately
result in good to the liquor trade and
| to society, but he insisted that it
lshould be carried along In a less radi-
cal way, and that the reforms desired
llshould be brought about without such
tremendous losses as are being entail
ed through the passage of prohibitory
| laws.
THE people Of this country do not
want prohibition he insisted, nor do
they want the saloon unless the saloon
is properly conducted.
Bad Saloon a Menace.
| 1.-THE saloon, If properly conducted,
| is very good convenience, but the
saloon that is run in connection with
gambling, and that violates law, and
that sells to minors and to men who
are intoxicated, is certainly out of
touch with civilization; it Is an offense
to modern thought, and it should be
stamped out by mandatory penalty
that is absolutely merciless in its pro-
visions"
Mr., Gilmore said that if the saloon
should be permanently abolished 1t
will be found necessary to provide a
substitute, because the strenuous life
| incident to modern civilization de
mands a place of relaxation, where
friend can meet friend, and where
worries and cares and responsibilities
of life, may for the time being, be put
aside.
Says There is No "Dry Territory"
'"The Anti-Saloon league" he con
tinued, sis not advocating prohibition
and to one who is familiar with the
situation all of this talk about dry
territory is nothing more than an alb
surdity. There is no dry territory IL
this country, although there are q
number of states and great MANY
counties, aggregating in area probably
one-half Of the United States. in which
laws have been adopted prohibiting the
} sale, and in some cases the manufac
ture of alcoholic beverages. A Law
merely prohibiting the sale of alec
holic beverages, however, can not af
feet the purchase and use of alcoholic
beverages any more than law thai
! might prohibit the sale of cigars
would affect the consumption @
cigars"
The speaker said that since the
!, passage of prohibition laws in suct
states as Georgia and Oklahoma, ship
ments of whisky and of beer to these
states have been phenomenally large
This he attributed to the fact that PEG
pie who, under a license system, woult
never keep whisky in their houses, arr
t persuaded to buy at least four bottle
through fear that in case of dire neet
they would not be able to secure it il
time.
The Anti-Saloon league, he said
was fully alive to the weakness of 1T
cause and that its leaders know tina
the people of this country do not wan
prohibition. He declared that the Ros
law in effect in Ohio was doomed t
I be absolutely nullified and in time t
: be repealed, as it would not bring tn
: desired reform.
: Favors European License Plan.
) I'VE contend" said he, chat it
:. absolutely essential to the solution {
I this problem that all licenses to reta
liquors shall continue in this countr
as they continue in Europe-that Il
that the saloonkeeper's license to d
: business shall continue without an
l. possible interference, or any power
e cancellation, unless it be by majo
!: ity vote of the people or else by col
6 viction in court of competent juri
4 diction of the violation of law.
OIL "a license of this character woul