The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-02-09

be found to Justify n change in our
syi TEN which would throw off the
checks and precautions against hasty
and un- lse legislation, which have
been 80 carefully provided, and make
the stump the seat OF legislation.
However, believe that in actual
practice, this change would not fully
Justify either the fears OF its oppo-
nents or the hopes Of its advocates.
II 1t will work well anywhere it ought
70 do so in our municipalities. SO,
TO add to discussion OF It the argu-
ment OF test by our own citizens.
approved bill at the last session to
authorize II In them, though am told
1t has not yet been resorted to any
where.
For myself, think we should await
the result OF fair trial In our cities
and villages before making statewide
the operation CT so radical a change
In our methods. But II the convention
should decide to submit the question
to the people, as I understand many
members wish to do, 1t should be
done separately. The provision should
be so guarded as to prevent its being
lightly invoked. The very heavy ex-
pense Of special elections should be
avoided, except in cases OF unusually
widespread and general demand. And,
in view OF It's experimental charac-
ter, resubmission to the people should
be provided for, at the end Of a rear
sonable period, without the formal:-
ties and delay generally required for
amendments OF the constitution.
The Liquor Traffic.
contention about methods Of deal
ing with the liquor trafic has long
disturbed the state and seriously in-
terfered with the conduct Of its gov
ernment. Certainly no one will say
our experience under the provision
of our present constitution has been
a happy one. But think that, in
the judgment of those who take a
practical view Of the matter, 1t has
been shown that it is one for the ap-
plication of the generally wholesome
principle Of LEGAL selfgovernment. l
believe the majority of the people OF
the state favor this method, because
they have become familiar with it
and have found how difficult it is 10
enforce a law prohibiting the traffic
in any community where popular
feeling Is arrayed against it.
"Such a law is hard to enforce in
any case, because in sales of liquor
seller and buyer are both parties to
them. SO there is no unwilling vic
time to invoke the law, as in ordinary
cases, and evid Ice is difficult to Sc
cure. But when the voters of a com.
munity, by lawful authority, forbid
the traffic, public sentiment there
win back their decision as nothing
else can do.
"In localities where the voters per.
NIT the tratic the question arises
shall 1t be free to all who choose to
engage In 1t and be conducted al
they please, or shall there be restric
tion and regulation?
Surely the wise course Is to confine
1t to proper persons and subject 1t tc
careful regulation. as In other cases
OF OCCUPATIONS which involve danger
or are liable to abuse. Yet thus fal
we have free trade in intoxicating
liquors In localities which have per
mitted their sale, because the consti
tuition forbids the granting of II
censes, which Is taken to mean to In
dividuals, because the right of com
munities to permit the traffic gener
ally has been upheld. Yet only by
requiring the particular persons whc
wish to engage in it to comply witt
certain conditions can the desired re
striction and regulation be secured.
81 know the word license is OBJ
noxicus to many good citizens. be
cause they think it means permission
which implies approval of the traffic
and they are opposed to both. Blu
under the local plan the permission
comes from the people of the commu
nifty, when it comes at all. Some o
them may approve the traffic, while
others merely prefer TO have it In the
open rather than risk the notorious
evils Of secret dealing.
"At any rate the home rule principle
takes away from license the ele
ments of permission and approval, tC
which objection is made, and leave:
only that of regulation to which there
Is and can be none.
Suggests Separate Submission.
Taking the business has simpl!
been license under another name anC
without the regulation which is thu
useful feature of license. And raising
, the tax from time to time has neither
curtailed the traffic nor diminished
, its evils. On the contrary it has
tended to make these worse by thu
: temptation to improper practices il
, order to meet the higher charge.
"As 1t stands. the state really II
censes everybody who pays the tai
in localities where the traffic is per
mitted, no matter what his characte
OF past career, without the right o
revocation for any cause whatever