The Stanford interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1911-1912, 1911-10-03

The men who desire to have the
local option status of Lincolr
county changed and the saloons OPP
ened in the county have filed the pc
tition required by the statute, upon
which is to be based the motion Cor
an order calling ar election upon the
question in December. Both OF the
great political parties of the state
have written into their party plat
forms an endorsement of the coun-
" unit. Politics cannot enter into
the question. II is one purely Affect
ing the public morals OF the county
No man is bold enough to declare
he j. in favor OF encouraging the
drink habit. All must confess the
evil which flows from il. The argu-
ment of some j. that we need the
revenue: but the criminal records OF
the county show that expense OF the
courts and Jail is increased by the
presence of the saloon To such an
extent that the license paid does not
lower the tax rate. This argument
simply won't hold. because the facts
refute II.
Others argue that they are oppos-
ed 10 the drunkenness, but oppose
the local option status because
more liquor is sold by the blind tlg-
ers than by open saloon. The facts
refute this argument; but granting
the truth of it, what does IT mean
Simply that either will feel neglect
of duty. or criminal connivance on
the part of the officials charged
with the enforcement fthe law II
such in this county ~ to disgrace
and community in this fair common
wealth. This we are 10th to believe
hut the argument is made by a con-
siderable number of our people. II
II is true, then. let the self-respect-
ing citizenship of the county
"cleanse the Augean stables When
offices are TO be filled by election,
fiji them with men who will enforce
the law. aud If there are those now
III. who refuse to enforce the laws,
there is the quick and sure relel of
Impeachment.
Upon the question Of local option.
a. upon all questions. there is diff
ference of honest opinion, and every
man il entitled to his opinion. But
n il seems BY the argument. the
main objection to the local option
statutes, is the fragrant, great and
open violation of il by the blind tig-
er. Then the gentlemen who present
this argument and who, to make 1t
honestly. are compelled to be in pos
session of the facts. like honest
men tina. they are, let them point
out the violators to the sworn Off
cials who are paid to enforce the law
| Do this aud the truth ends: do this
and You have done Your duty. The
man who does less has no claim to
good citizenship. The man who
knows of murder, theft, arson. or rape
and would not inform the Officers,
would be justly branded by his fel-
lows a. shameless brute. The
man who knows and can point To
the persistent violator of any law.
and does not hand him over to the
courts is either a dirty coward or
IA criminal himself. The man who
INDUCES in the argument that more
lliauor is sold under the present con-
dition than with the open saloon, -
either an irresponsible gossip who
shoots off his mouth. without know
ling or caring for the facts. or else a
follow who knows the facts and
lacks both the good citizenship and
the manly courage to name the gull
LIS man. ID is question upon when
there can be no middle ground
il is either right or it is wrong High
license can't give the relief, for the
fellow, who pays the high license
10 make his business go, has simp-
liz got to sell more DRINKS than the
fellow who paws the low license
and il is the DRINKS that fi'i the
l,risons and bring want and desra-
dation. The democratic party Ia
yors it, the republican party has de-
clared for it. and Lincoln county