The Detroit times., 1911-04-06
Or. D|CK|E HANDS
OUT STRAIGHT TALK
Tells Legislators Reduction Of Local
Option Voting Unit Would Be
Cowardy Action.
UFrom a star correspondent)

OFrom q stan Correspondent)
LANSING. Mich, April 6.-Several
hundred "wets," "drys" and legisla-
tors listened TO discussion OF the
FttZgibbon township and village OPP
ton unit bill In the house chamber
last night
L. G. Stewart of Battle Creek, who
opened the discussion for the oppon-
ents OF the small unit bill. produced
figures from experience In Calhoun
county to show that there were less
than one-half the number OF occu-
pants OF the county Jail in Calhoun
county under 20 months OF dry regime
than under the preceding 20 months
OF wet, and that the number had been
reduced 220 in Battle Creek alone.
These figures he applied to the fact
that the farmers, where the majority
was dry, pay 10 per cent OF the taxes
and that they would suffer their
share of the burden II Battle Greek
city went wet He said that 10 per
cent OF the contagious diseases In his
county were in the city.
He said that the anti-saloon people
would be glad TO leave the question
OF opposition 10 the taxpayers and
gave the names OF several prominent
manufacturers In Battle Greek, who
had been converted to dry sentiment
by experience OF 20 months.
Mr.. Stewart said that fraud was
used TO defeat statewide Prohibition
In 1889. that the saloon people had
asked for county instead OF state
wide prohibition, and were now try
On 20
II. X. Pattengill. OF Lansing, dis
cussed liquor selling as an evil al
large.
Former Senator J. H. Kinnane, OF
Dowagiac, said that local option was
not old enough To establish reliable
statistics. but that according 70
United States statistics the percapita
consumption OF liquor had increased
since the era OF local option.
He defended the township unit on
the ground that each locality should
have the power TO work out It's own
salvation. In his own county, he said.
1000 factory men in his township
buy $500 tickets to wet localities a
month. and that the county was kept
dry by voters living near the out-of'
the-county localities which were bene-
| fitted He said he was not willing 10
believe that black-legs and jail-bird
carried counties wet.
| He said that changing the unit
would put the decision where II would
remain fixed for longer time.
DR.. Emil Rosinger, of Detroit. rep
resenting the Stadt-Verband OF De-
troit. questioned the statement that
In
ties, because, he said, no county ever
really was dry. He said that the Ger
mans were tired Of the constant
wrangle over liquor matters In the
legislature and wanted TO have II
settled by home rule. He intimated
that II would be better TO have no re-
strictIons On liquor selling. holding
/, up the example Of Germany, where
he said the people were temperate
although there was no prohibition.
J. Earl Brown. OF st. Johns, said
that county option wrought injustice
to townships and cities where a ma
jority OF the sentiment was wet.
Louis c. Cramton, OF Lapeer, one
OF the trainers OF the Warner-Cram
ton law. took up an argument or a
previous speaker that cities ought to
have power TO settle the liquor ques
ton as they do matters Of sewage and
lighting He pointed out that cities
could not dispose OF sewage In way
to endanger other neighbornoods, and
lef; the analogy to the audience Ii
Dickie, president OF Albion college
Mayor Ellis, OF Grand Rapids. and
James Lynch, city attorney OF Pom
tiac, also spoke.
Dr. Dickie told the legislators that
II they wanted to do the most coward
| ly thing ever enacted in this capitol
let them pass this bill.
You are told with bludgeon held
over your head, | am speaking In a
political sense, to pass this bill. Who
is asking for the passage OF this bl.
Is II the churches, or the educators
or the homes? No. the demand for II
comes from the liquor interests
alone" SANFORD.