The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-06-19
Author of Nicholson Law
and Legislative Secretary
Of National DRY" League,
Is in Richmond.
HE THINKS INDIANA
HAS GONE BACKWARD
Predicts the People in the
Next State Campaign Will
Vote to Restore County
Local Option.

Viewing the present option law az
. farce, 8. Il. Nicholson, legislative su.
perintendent Of the Anti-Saloon league
OF America. with headquarters in
Washington. d. c.. and author of the
nicholson Law" of Indiana, foresees
that the principal issue in the 1912
state campaign Will be the liquor ques.
ton. with the purpose In view Of re-
facilitating county local option In In
diana. Mr.. Nicholson has been in the
city since Saturday night. renewing
numerous acquaintances and to attend
the commencement at Earlham col.
lege, his alma mater.
The Proctor law, a creation OF the
last legislature. which became effect
i've in March. In looked upon as farci-
cal by Mr.. Nicholson, because. he says
Indiana took decided step backward.
Furthermore he believes the people
appreciate the significance of the step
and from his observations and under
standing OF the situation, are ready
and anxious to restore county local
option to the statute books.
A Backward Step. .
Indiana has outgrown that sort of
option legislation now on its statutes.
The state started out all right with
the small unit option. which was
strengthened by the Moore law and
then the county local option" said
Mr.. Nicholson. but last winter the
state. which had been 30 progressive
IN the movement, took a backward
step by adopting again the small unit
option law.
County local option did not have
b fair show to determine It's success
or failure in this state In the short
time 1t was a law" said Mr.. Nichol
son. THE law should have had at
least two more years trial. in my opin
ion. and am sure that thousands OF
'others In the state have come to the
same conclusion and now are ready to
lpledge their support to legislative can
'didates who will incorporate county
option in their platforms"
Mr.. Nicholson 10 regarded as the
,father Of the first OF modern liquor
laws In Indiana, the law which bears
his name. being presented by him and
passed by the legislature OF which he
was q member several years ago. az
n representative from Howard coun
~. Kokomo being his home until he
was afhliated with the Anti-Saloor
league Of America. Then he frs,
made his headquarters at Philadelphia
land recently at the national capital
Has Kept In Touch.
While he has taken no active par,
In the LIQUOR Aghts in recent years In
Indiana. he has kept In close touch
with the situation and has been coun
'seled with on many important steps
which were taken. Since arriving ir
the state last week, he has met many
'of the dry leaders and already Is In
possession OF their plans. SO he be
llieves he knows whereof he speaks
when he declares that the 1912 cam
ppaign OF Indiana will again hinge or
the liquor question.
In q national way the temperance
forces are uniting for the enactmen,
OF the Curtiss bill. which, II passed
will strengthen the federal power II
coping with the situation in dry" ter
ritory. preventing interstate ship
.ments Of liquor into such territory.