The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-10-24
C|TY'S BUILDERS
FOR LOCAL OPTION
PROMINENT BUSINESS MEN IN
FIRM STAND AGAINST PROHI-
BlTlON.
(From The Oklahoman. }

% Cltdl
in the following interviews given out
by the Oklahoma Business Mems
league:
e. T. Bynum of the real estate firm
of Campbell and Bynum of Oklahoma
City, former vice chancellor of Ep-
worth university, says:
Three years ago / did everything
| could to obtain the passage Of the
prohibition clause of the constitution,
but I am going to vote for the local
option and high license bill initiated
by the people this fall.
''In the former fight did every
thing in my power to obtain the pas
sage OF the law, hoping that We would
get prohibition, but l see that state
wide prohibition is a failure and now
the question is not one of sentiment,
but one of practical regulation of the
saloon.
Il have come to the conclusion that
the best method of controlling the
liquor sales, laying aside all consci-
ence feelings, to get practical results,
Is by the local option and high Ii.
cense plan. That will eliminate the
bootlegger and joint keeper the leech-
es of prohibition. They are not made
over saloonkeepers. The legitimate
saloonkeeper OF territorial days has,
in the majority of instances, sought
out some other line of business.
The bootlegger is the barroom
loafer and the gambler. Gambling
houses, assignation houses and places
for the sale of liquor have increased
in number in Oklahoma City under
the statewide plan. Real estate and
other business men would welcome
the change to the system of the well
regulated saloon.
II have seen both methods Of con-
trolling the sale of liquor in the cities
and have come to the conclusion that
it Is not a question OF sentiment but
one OF regulation.
Il am still a prohibitionist and
would vote for prohibition in a local
option campaign, but believe that we
can get better results under the To-
cal nntinn plan instead of statewide
prohiDitfon Tor the state"
Better for City.
C. F. Colcord, one of Oklahoma
City's town builders and founders,
head of the Colcord Investment COM
pany, and owner of the s35O,00O four
teen-story Colcord building Grand and
Robinson avenues, says:
"Oklahoma City would be far bet
ter off morally and financially with
the local option and high license plan
of regulation than with prohibition.
Prohibition has been a miserable
failure and the conditions which exist
are rotten. 1t has been a flat failure
in Oklahoma
"Eoys of the city would not go into
an open saloon to drink where ev-
erybody could see them, but they will
hide in these bootleggers joints be-
hind screens and curtains where they
know they cannot be seen They do
II, too.
II have been acquainted with Kan
sas for a period OF 25 or 30 years and
am conversant with the statewide pro-
hibition there. 1t has been a flat fail
ure. The local option, high license
plan OF regulation would be immeas-
urably better and great improvement
on the horrible conditions which ex-
list in the gambling house. bootlegging
joints and assignation h ouses. Ii.
quor is sold in all OF them.
Business conditions In Oklahoma I
City would be improved by the ad- '
option of the local option plan and a
healthier tone given TO trade from {
many angles. The business men of
Oklahoma City want the bootlegger, {
the joint keeper, the gambler put out |
and they know that such cannot be I
so long as statewide prohibition is |
bad. 1t is not a question OF senti- I
ment. 1t Is question of practical
application of law to fit conditions" '
Makes Dope Fiends. S
Prohibition makes dope fiends." t
vas the statement of Superintendent
Peter y. Biewer d. the Oklahoma c
City board of health. That is the 8
me condition which Is always found Il
n the prohibition states. Wherever II
here is the bootlegging system. there o
he percentage of drug fiends is the
,reatest. Statistics bear this statement o
ut. p
1T is but necessary for a thinking q
nan to consider the true status OF the II
ituation and he can very readily un. el
erstand the cause of so many per 81
ons ba,N,,tpr ah 81 10 I M