The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-03-15

Rev. VIM j. Kane Answers Local
Option Bill Before the Legisla-
ture.
Father Kane, pastor Of St. Johns Cath
olic church. East Church street, this city,
who has had many years of experience IN
parochial work in many parishes OF not
only the counties but in Baltimore city, IN
an interview, relative to local option he
said:
Il am unalterably opposed TO the meas
ure," he said. land regard local option
as delusion and snare. | do not hest
tate to make this assertion and am per-
fectly willing to have the public know
where / stand"
Il do MOI believe in prohibition he
continued. 81 speak freely on this sub
| ject because of much experience III deal
! ing with the question. If any persons are
qualified to speak along this particular
/ line, priests are certainly the ones. Pro-
| hibition does not prohibit, local option
is Chimera-
NV views coincide with what | am
told by Father O'Connell at Brunswick
and Father Kavanugh at Liberty. Both
! are local option communities; yet We
know something of conditions at these
places. AT my former home, a local OPP
ton district in Hartford county intern
perance prevailed to far greater extent
! than at places where saloons existed
! Saturday nights negroes bought jugs OF
whisky where it was sold and carried ii
home. Monday found them lying about
the road stupid from drink-all in local
option district. Statistics show that
drunkenness is at the bottom of more
crime in Maine and Kansas than in Mary
land-both former Statss being among
the sO-called dry communities. With
these facts staring one in the face, where
is the good to come from prohibitions"
Asked if he thought the liquor traffic
should be curbed, he replied:
you cannot Iegislate morals into men.
Those who drink are gong to have il at
almost any hazard. ! am now assisting
children brought to want by the liquor
evil, and CAN'T see where all the tenn
perance talk has done any good. What
we want are laws dealing with the sale OF
liquors and above all the rigid enforce
ment of such laws.
"A saloonkeeper who sells to an intoX-
icated person should have his license
taken away forthwith. The trouble is
4 laws are made and movements started
that finally lag and apparently become
inactive. Some time ago a crusade was
started against splitting on the sidewalk
A good move it was, but what has be
come of ii? The ioulest spot in this re-
spsct is in front Of the City Hall, made SO
by crowds of men and BOYS loafing there
every night"
Father Kane took fling at Mr. Ander
son, superintendent Of the Anti-Saloou
League. and he said he had no faith in
him
Operating on a salary" he said,
which am told has reached as much as
$1,000 wear, the temperance question
has become his regular business. have
been told in Baltimore he is not sincere
as his efforts appear to indicate. How
ever -eoard him as one of the most in
temperate persons | know in public life.
Il must all be his way, or there's nothing
TO it. As 20 those who go about making
Temperance addresses-l have the posi-
tive knowledge that one brilliant speaker
bad 10 be assisted home Because Of drink
after he had made a great talk against
the N1uur evil.
"What more striking example of the
local option dcluSion can be found than
Montgomery county? The saloon has
been Danilhed, but what about The liquor
evil? Anyone coming from Washington,
especially on Saturday evenings, can see
for himself what is bring taken into 'hi-
dry community And the same may b.
said of Other local option places. The
Supreme Court some lime ago Oh the
Gucs ION Of interstate commerce decided
,hH jhOXiCaute may be carried from one