The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1909-01-21
Model
License
League
Holds It's Second Annual Ma
tional Convention in the
City of Louisville.
COL GILMORE SPEAKS
On the Objects and Growth
Of the League After Call
ing Meeting to Order.

I LOUISVILLE KY, Jan. 2l-The
National Model license League met
here this morning to. test It's growth,
its doctrine. and to near various
views regarding rs purposes. Presi-
dent Gilmore called the session to or
der.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Jan. 21-"The
people 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 viii re-
cede and the Anti7saioon League will
find its occupation gone. = So de-
clared President Gilmore, of the Ma
tional Model License League, in his
address at the convention Of that or
ganlzation today. Mr.. Gilmore dis
cnssed reform movements and the
prohibition wave which he declared
to be protest against things that
ought nosSto be; against conditions
that ought not to continue. Mr.
Gilmore said he was astisfed that
the prohibition movement will ulti-
mately result in good to the liquor
trade and to society, but he insisted
that it should be carried along in a
less radical way, and that the re-
forms desired should be brought
about without such tremendous loss
es as are being entailed through the
passage of prohibitory laws
The people of this country do not
want prohibition, : he insisted, NOR
do they want the3saloon unless the
saloon is properly conducted.
THE saloon, II properly conduc:-
led, 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 Of
Tense to modern thought, and i.
should be stamped out by a man
datory penalty that is absolutely
merciless in its provisions"
Mr. Gilmore said that If the saloon
should be permanently abolished ii
viii be found necessary to provide a
substitute, because the strenuous
life incident to modern civilization
demands a place of relaxation, where
friend can meet friend, and where
worries and cares and responsible
ties of life may, for the time being,
be put aside.
'TThe Anti-saloon League" he con.
tinued, SIS not advocating prohibit
ton, and to one who is familiar with
the situation all of this talk about
dry territory is nothing more than
an absurdity. There is no dry ter
ritory' in this country, although
there are a number of States and ,
great. many counties, aggregating in
area probably one-half of the United
States in which laws have been adopt
ed prohibiting the sale, and in some
cases the manufacture, of alcoholic
beverages. "A law merely prohibit
ing the sale of alcoholic beverages,
however, can not affect the purchase
and use of. alcoholic beverages any
more than a law that might prohibit
the sale of cigars would affect the
consumption OF cigars"
The speaker said that since the
passage OF prohibition laws in such
states as Georgia and Oklahoma ship
ments of whiskey and of beer to
these States have been phenomenally
large. This he attributed to the fact
that people who. under license sys-
TEN, would never keep whiskey in
their houses, are persuaded to buy
at least four bottles through fear
that in case of dire need they would
not be able to secure It In time.
The Anti1saloon League. he said,
was fully alive to the weakness OF its
cause and that its leaders know that
the people of this country do not
want prohibition. He declared that
the Rose daw in effect in Ohio was
doomed to be absolutely nulliaed
and in time to be repealed, as II
would not bring the desired reform.
I'VE contend" said he. that 1t is
absolutely essential to the solution
of this problem that all licenses ia
retail liquors shall continue in this
country as they continue in Europe
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