Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-06-08

COulesl IN 0ldcolSils lOI LuCSe Wiz
are back Of the movement in favor OF
this kind Of liquor regulation seem de-
termined TO drive the brewer from pol
itics
1t seems to be we'll established
fact, according to the records at the
capital that the brewers of Wisconsin
have been very active with their lob
by the past few years. The records
show that they have spent thousands
of dollars in the employment of agents
whose work mas been TO influence the
votes of legislators elected by the peo-
pie and not by the brewers.
For years and years the railroads
maintained powerful Hobbies in Mad
ison for the purpose Of influencing leg
islation These lobbyists fought the
measures which we're intended to ben
eft the people who patronize the rail-
roads. They succeeded for a long
time because the people were not fully
aroused as to what was being done.
but when they did finally arise in their
indignation they vertically swept the
railroads AID their paid agents from
the temple.
Unless all signs fail history may
soon repeat itself IN Wisconsin. and
instead OF the weIl-fed railroad lobby
list with his insinuating ways and his
other influences taking TO his neels.
we may see the brewery agenI who
has hobnobbed with and entertained
the too often altogether too easy and
pliable legislator making his final dis.
appearance around the nearest cor
ner.
Moreover. II the signs are not mis-
understood the lesson to be taught the
brewers is to be exactly the same
that has been taught the railroads.
The last named have for long time
been eager to have ii understood by
the general public that they 1.-THE rail-
roads, are no longer interested IN pol
itics.
Yes, the railroads learned the lesson
and It was a costly one, for it was not
learned until millions Of dollars had
been spert in efforts only some OF
which succeeded in directing the az
fairs of the state in face of the pro-
test OF all the taxpayers
The brewers seem unwilling to learn
the lesson through the experience of
the railroads and they are madly rush
ing in where the railroads failed. and
failed miserably.
County option means more strict
regulation of the sale of Intoxicating
liquors, and this is what the agents of
the breweries tell us the brewers want!
It means majority rule. 1t means
that the county shall be the unit for
the vote upon this question the same
as it is the unit for the payment Of
taxes.
Then WIZ should the brewers OBJ
ject to county option? can conceive
OF no other reason than this. That
any movement made for further regu-
lation of the liquor traffic is opposed
by the brewers Notwithstanding their
protestations OF anxiety for regula-
ton.
1t requires a license to retail liquor.
The question follows: Who is 10 grant
this license? Those who pay the taxes
in the county unit, or portion of
those who pay the taxes in county
unit?
+ One thing Is certain and ] believe
this will be demonstrated before many
months in Wisconsin. and that is that
1t is not for the brewers to say what
kind of regulation we shall have for
the saloons. The railroads tried 10 do
their own regulating; the brewers are
trying to do theirs. / believe the peo-
pie will settle the matter themselves.
Brewers say they want regulation;
that is, that they want new laws under
which the saloon will be improved.
Remember this. There is no law ON
the books of Wisconsin which brewers
and distillers obey until they are com.
PEELED to obey 1t.
Every village, town and city in Wis.
consin in which saloons exist knows
that within its limits laws made 10 gov
ern the saloons are being violated by
those who run saloons
In the face OF the present violation
of law by the liquor interests il is evil
cent to those who advocate county op-
ton that the cry of the liquor inter-
ests for regulation IS makeshift and
is not sincere.
have been interested in methods
the liquor interests use in Wisconsin
in meeting sentiment in favor of coun,
~ option, ndw one Of the dominant is
sues in the fall campaien
In other states where the issue has
been fought out the liquor interests
attempted to attract attention from the
real issue by injecting either discus
sion Of personal liberty or of prohibi
ton.
In Wisconsin l hear representatives
Of liquor interests and their friends
talking both personal liberty and pro
hibition
Some OF the advocates Of county op
ton already have been led away from
county option into discussion of both
personal liberty and prohibition 81
adroit opponents
Real dyed-in-the.woo, county option
ties. however. are not fooled by either
expedient OF liquor men
When personal liberty is referred e
by the liquor men these county option
ties simply prove by records of fights
in other states that the personal liber
~ cry was started by the liquor men
and. through their wire pulling. advo
Gated by organizations primarily pu
Hrs.