Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1910-01-21
PLAN TO COMPEL
OBEDIENCE TO LAW
Solution Of Liquor Problem OF.
tered by National Model
License League
Head of Missouri Branch Dis
:. cusses Bic Convention TO
Be Held in ST. Louis.

st. Louis, Mo-, Jan. 17.-Great prog
ress toward the proper solution Of the
liquor problem is expected TO result
from the third annual convention OF
the National Model License league,
which is to be held at the Planters
hotel in st. Louis on Feb. 3 and 4.
While the league is financed by
men connected with the liquor bust
ness and collateral trades, its conyen-
ton viii be addressed by prominent
ministers and distinguished men who
are not connected with the trade. but
are Interested in the solution of the
liquor problem. The sessions Will be
open to the general public.
"The league has what it believes is
the long sought solution, but IT is not
narrow.minded, and it seeks to get
the benefit Of the constructive views
of men of brains" said Mr.. Joseph
Messmer, president OF the Missouri
branch of the organization, adding:
"The league is advocating a form Of
law that will take the liquor question
out of politics and put the lawbreak'
ers out of the business. When this
has been accomplished then all will
have been done that can be done by
law in favor of true temperance.
Removal From Politics.
"Our plan would make the retailer
independent of politicians by giving
him a license that would continue In
force, unless suspended or cancelled
because OF the holders conviction or
violation of law. Upon the first con-
viction the license would be suspend
ed for thirty days, which Is a severe
penalty. Upon the second conviction
the license would be cancelled and
the holder would w again be al
lowed a license in Missouri. The
Judge could not play any favorites. for
the conviction would carry with it the
penalty provided in enc case, and
the Judge would have no power to
lessen or increase the penalty. Thus
ore judge would be the same as an
other Il the liquor men.
1--WE oppose high license, because 1t
is manifestly unfair to charge more
than a reasonable sum for a license.
II a dealer is law.abjding he should be
allowed to make an equitable profit
on his time, labor and capital. If he
is not law.abiding he should not be al
lowed to continue in business. High
license In depriving a dealer OF his le-
Ultimate profits tends to compel him
to deal in inferior goods. Also 1t
should be remembered that a law
breaker, with political protection,
can afford to pay a much higher H.
cense than a law-abiding dealer can
pay.
High license is advocated by some
as a means of limiting the number of
saloons, but the number of saloons
can best be limited by a law that per-
mits licenses to be issued in proper
ton to the population, say one license
for each 500 of inhabitants.
I'm all prohibition territory and In
some license territory there is the
blind tiger evil and this is a curse
that should be blotted out. The only
practical way is to destroy the market
for the wares Of the blind tiger by
licensing enough retailers to supply
the reasonable demands OF the people.
Big Daily Increase.
t.FThn No. ~,nnt'g q x,,.na uhAut
that for the first five months of the
present fiscal year there was a daily
increase of 186,837 gallons in the
amount of liquor being consumed. The
prohibitionists claim that they put for
licensed saloons out of business
every day last year, but the govern
ment's figures show that the net de-
creas in the number of retailers pay
ing federal tax was only 2 per cent for
the year.. The question for the people
to decide is how to regulate a bust
ness that is growing faster than pro-
hibition is spreading.
Since the league was organized
Two years ago five states have adopt
ed model license laws in modified
form and in each case the various
have proven factors In behalf
Of good government.
We have associations in all but
states of the Union, and in
Missouri our membership almost abso-
I1teIy comprises that of the Manu-
lecturers and Merchants association,
which, in effect, we recently absorbed.
Dur policy is to make OF the saloon q
In which no drunken man can
purchase liquor. to make OF 1t a work
.ngman's club in those sections where
, workingman's club should be exist
mt, and to put all those restrictions
a saloon which would exist u n
Ter the best state OF morals"
The Headquarters OF The league are
Louisville, Ky. The national OFF.
,ers are: T. VI. Gilmore, president:
@. Grown, vice president;
sTaeme McGowan, treasurer; q. Il.
! sshburne. secretary: D. 81. Smith.
general council.
The officers Of tho Missouri branch
ire: Joseph siessmer, president: r.
\. Hugo. vice president: n. G schmidt. 1
.reasurer; John l.. Mccormack, secro-
airy; Frank II. Fargis. attorney. The
Missouri! directors are: II, r. VIII.
ans, Hewey Duplex, Louis Idler aud
.red :. Bremen.