The Ocala evening star., 1910-09-22

Why Hon. III. W. Long FavOrs Local
Option and OppOses the Adoption
Of the Proposed ConstitutiOnaI
Amendment

Amendment
"Give reasons why you are in favor
Of the principle Of local option and
opposed to the amendment making
statewide prohibition a part of Flor
ida's constitution"
The foregoing query was submitted
to me by a representative of the Bus
mess League Of Florida, whom 1 am
reliably informed in composed of
reputable gentlemen, and are not in
of the state.
1 favor local option instead Of state
wide prohibition for the following and
other reasons, to-wit:
1st. In these days of commercial
ism, good roads. Improvement Of wa
terways. canals, extension Of territory
of the United States in violation of
the underlying principles of the time
honored Munroe doctrine, the tariff,
trusts, combines, mOnopOlies. graft
and fraud. and other great questions
now agitating the minds of the peo-
pie Of our country; a great moral is
sue based upon prohibition has no
place in the democratic party, which
is not and never has been a prohibi-
tiOn party, but a party "of the people
by the people and for the people"
That position of the democratic party
of Florida, being recognized by the
temperance workers of Florida, when
the question Of the 18th article of the
constitution of Florida, was being
aSitated and formulated, it was pro-
vided that a local option election
could not be held within sixty days of
the general election thereby separat-
ing and maintaining the great ques-
tiOn OF prohibition in Florida from
party politics. leaving that issue with
the people of the several counties of
the state to settle and determine for
themselves.
End. Local option under the provis-
ions above stated has succeeded be
yond the expectation of many original
support and has accomplished and
still Is accomplishing a great work.
3rd. The great democratic party OF
Florida has in the past stood by the
active temperance workers of the state
by enacting into law such statutory
laws as were found or believed to be
necessary to make local option effect
i've when adopted by any county or
counties and can be relied upon to
to continue to do SO as necessity may
require.
4th. Prohibition can not be enforc-
ed and maintained without a strong
moral element behind it in the sew
eral counties consisting at least of a
majority of the citizens of those coun-
ties.
5th. The W. c. T. u. and other tenn
perance workers are doing a great
work in formulating a moral senti-
ment in favor of prohibition which
when ripe for action will sweep the
state under the local option laws
thereof.
The object to be obtained by loca
option and statewide prohibition be-
| ing the same. differing only in method
l respectfully request broad minded
| men to carefully analyze the plat
form upon which l stand and draw
their own conclusion.
The narrow minded, egOtistic crank
who either from disability or inability
| will not or can not solve the grea
| state and national problems now agi
| tating the minds of the people there
| of. l turn over to the tender mercy
of Him who said give not that which
| is holy unto the dogs. neither cast "
your pearls before swine lest the!
| trample them under their feet ant
turn again and rend you"
| Very respectfully, H. w. Long.