The Detroit times., 1910-02-22
JUDGE SMITH
RAPS SALOONS
Sentences Local Option violators To
House of correctiOn--Monroe and
Other Burglars Also Sentenced.

nave Oh the coming local OptlOn clcC'
ton. The courts remarks were made
as he sentenced F. w Johnson. pro
prietor of Holly hotel, and j. W.
Perry. proprietor of hotel AZ
Thomas, both convicted OF violating
the local option laws. The court de-
clared II the vets should win this
year there would be an overwhelming
majority Cor local option in 1912 He
urged that the dry" candidates for
ONCE be supported. Johnson and
Perry were given Go days in the
house OF correction and were fined
500. Johnson was also assessed
s6l.70 costs and Perry $40 costs.
In discussing the local option ques-
ton. Judge Smith said:
In my opinion II would be wise
for you 10 go out OF the hotel bust
ness or strictly obey the law. For
the present indications are that the
PEOPLE OF this country are not going
hack TO old conditions by the repeal
OF the present law in April next nor
elect any candidate for prosecuting
attorney or sheriff who will conceal
violations or grant immunity from
arrest. Even the new Warner-Cram-
ton law is but a rope OF sand when
there are no officials who VIII en-
force it.
Personal Liberty Not Abridged.
THE local option law permits
every person 10 purchase and use 10
his own home any kind and amount Of
intoxicating liquors. AS construed oy
the supreme court, II also allows one
TO give il as an act Of hospitality 10
these who are In good faith his
guests. The personal liberty OF the
user OF liquor is not therefore greatly
abridged.
Its aim is to suppress drinking
in public places known as saloons.
The reasons for this distinction be-
tween the home and the saloon are
numerous and plain.
The saloon is organized TO make
money for its proprietor and to fur
nish a market for the manufacture Of
liquors. Competition induces many
devices TO increase the sales in therL
All OF them encourage treating. Many
OF them tolerate gambling. The slot
machine is often found there. Most
OF them encourage drinking by young
men that they may have customers
In the future. Quite a percentage or
them permit the stealing OF an intoxi
Gated mans money. upon the theory
that IL he does not lose his money
in AS place, he will in BIS. There
were several such instances in the
local courts and other sufferers from
this form OF outrage who were
ashamed or afraid 10 prosecute. The
natural tendency In a saloon is to-
ward the excessive use OF intoxicants
Their owners combine TO secretly COLI
troll the election OF sheriffs and prose
cutting attorneys and sometimes OF the
Judges for the purpose OF securing
immunity for the violation OF the law.
They reward candidates for other Of
fees who spend money freely in treat.
ing voters. | could name several Of
ficers here who went out OF office as
poor In purse as when nominated be
cause OF the necessity OF constantly
spending money over the bar in treat
ing.
Liquor in the Home.
"The use OF liquor in the home has
vastly different surroundings and ie-
suits. Unless mans appetite is
already beyond his control from long
use OF intoxicants, he is not likely TO
use them TO excess in the presence or
his family. his guests. or in the pri-
vacy OF his place OF business.
MIR. Johnson, / regret the neces-
sity OF imposing q penalty. because
You have been personal friend and
belong TO a fne family. In a hotel
with large operating expenses the
temptation to violate the law is great.
But you went into the hotel business
because you wished TO operate ba-.
You were a persistent violator of
the former tax law. Your bar be-
came obnoxious 10 large majority
OF the people of Holly | am told It
helped TO swell the local option senti-
ment there. My belief is that you
have violated the present law more
times than are disclosed by the wit
nesses in the present case. You ap-
pear TO belong 10 a class OF dealers
who believe the sale OF liquor should
be as free as the sale OF groceries
and drygoods. and who viii not obey
any liquor law except from fear OF
punishment.
4, Should the law be repealed al the
coming election. the contrast between
the conditions that will result from
80 open bars and those that exis-
Iow, will be so great that | have an
abiding conviction amounting In my
mind TO a moral certainty that the
pendulum OF public opinion in Oak
land county will swing back violently
I'm 1912 to the present law, in which
event, you will have but two years
OF prosperous sales over your bar.
Why not quit the business or else
obey the law, whether it be a license
or prohibition law
James Monroe and George and Rich
ard Hicks, who committed half hur-
dred burglaries in Pontiac. were
among those who were sentenced.
In sentencing Monroe and the Hicks
brothers. Judge Smith held that the
Hicks brothers were the more serious
offenders and stated that Monroe is
light in the upper story. inasmuch as
he stole for the love OF stealing, while
the Hicks brothers stole for the pro-
oeeds OF the stolen goods. The broth
ers were sent TO Marquette for seven
and a half TO fifteen years, with q
recommendation that they serve the
maximum term. Monroe was sent To
Jackson Tor Ave TO fifteen years, with
n Recommendation Of 10 years.
Other sentences were as follows.
william Brown. burglary. two 10 Is
years az Jackson. recommendation
ave years; Frank Sprague burglary.
eix months to IL years at lonia, rec
ammendation one year; Roy Dehater
burglary, one to t5 years at lonia
sbraa vaarQs racrga