The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-06-07
NATIONAL WHOLESALE LIQUOR DEALERS.
ADDRESS Of PRESIDENT. T...ANNUAL MEET.

sary by the increased expenses OF
their police courts.
These conditions are inseparable
from prohibition, and always follow
the blind tiger and bootlegging sale
OF LIQUOR
Adams county, Ohio. lately made
notorious because of The remarkably
large number of her people who have
admittedly sold their votes, is almost
exclusively composed of rural voters,
there being no cities in the county. Yet
Adams county was one of the first
counties that voted dry under the
county option law in Ohio.
Statistics.
The total national revenue of this
government from all sources for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1910, was
931 million dollars
The total internal revenue and Gus
toms receipts from alcoholic bever-
ages was 226 million dollars.
Think of it! In twelve months, 226
million dollars revenue was paid to
this government by an industry fos-
tered by the government, and yet left
unprotected by it from the attacks of
the widest fanaticism.
Does not government which col
lects over "A per cent of its total rev
enue from one industry owe that in
dustry protection from confiscation, or
at least compensation, when, under
state laws, confscation results?
The annual report of the commits
sioner of internal revenue for the year
ending June so. 1910, shows a net in
crease over the preceding year of
over thirteen million dollars in taxes
levied on distilled liquors, and net
increase of over three million dollars
OH beer.
This tremendous increase in the con-
sumption of fermented and distilled
liquors. in spite of the activity and
victories claimed by the Anti-Saloon
League, is notable because it shows
conclusively that prohibition, instead
Of reducing the quantity of liquors
consumed, simply changes the chan
nels of distribution and certainly re-
duces the quality while it increases
the quantity consumed.
The Coming Year.
The association is to be congratulate
ed on the amount of substantial
achievement which has marked the
past year, both in our national and
state campaigns. But in this period
Of the abatement of the wave of fanat-
icism that threatened us We must eXer-
else unusual precautions to hold the
position We have won, and prepare the
way for permanent commercial stabil-
ity and permanent relief from unjust
agitation.
We must not try TO stem the current
OF nationwide investigation and dis
Cussion. On the contrary, We should,
in every reasonable and horonable
way. aid in these efforts, and in doing
so we should aspire to guide public
opinion along channels of fair play
and sound principles.
We must admit that the prohibition
lists could not incitc these great waves
OF tanatical opposition unless there
was some foundation for their attacks.
Granting this our problem is plain.
First. We must consistently con
tinue to influence the retailer so
conduct his business as to eliminate
those features that may be open to
criticism. II was Daniel Webster who
said that liberty exists in proportion
to wholesome restraint"
Secondly. We must endeavor 10 ed
ucate the American public to the great
evils that statutory prohibition creates
so as to build up sentiment in favor
of license, regulation and control.
Thirdly. We must be able and pre-
pared to defend our calling before that
greatest of all tribunals-the bar of
American public opinion.
Nu.I Co.