Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-03-15
History OF Local Option.
A PAPER READ AT The RECENT FIFTEENTH
ANNIVERSARY Or The ANTT-SALooN
LEAGUE.

In 1880 the people of Montgomery county
voted on the license question, and by q
majority of 1880. or nearly two votes tc
one, carried the county dry" every cleo.
ton district giving mo license" majority
The friends of temperance rejoiced oveI
the result, and many thought their work
was finished when the vote was taken and
that the law would enforce itself.
The result was that gradually the senti-
ment for the law seemed to relax. Some OF
our officials disregarded their obligations,
and by 1896 many people were becoming
convinced that the law could not be en-
forced and were turning toward high license
as more feasible and more effective.
In the fall of 1896, a meeting of citizens
was called, and, as recollect, was held in
room over Owens drug store. About a
score of those interested was present. in
Guiding some representatives Of the Wo-
mans Christian Temperance Union. After
careful consideration it was unanimously
decided to call meeting for the formation
of a County Anti-Saloon League, the A. S.
L. idea having been formulated few
years previous at Oberlin, Ohio. A COM
mittee on constitution, &c, was appointed
and authorized to call a general meeting
later on to consider the constitution and
10 elect officers for the first year
Soon after the preliminary meeting was
held, friend Of the writer and also
friend of the cause said. you had better
90 slow in starting this agitation. as it
might result in losing our law"
The reply was that, il it could not be en-
forced. the law had better be repealed, as
a law that was ignored was utterly demon
alizing to any community.
The committee appointed for the pur-
pose called general meeting in February,
1897, to adopt the constitution, elect Off
GERS, etc. The writer was in Kansas at the
time upon other business. and to his sur
prise found upon his return that he had
been named as President of the Montgom-
cry County Anti-Saloon League.
From its organization to date the league
has had the earnest and unfailing support
of the W. C. T. u, without which 1t could
not always have maintained its high posi-
ton in our county.
Before the league commenced work it
had been difficult to secure convictions.
But Judge James B. Henderson selected
hate. olose NJ v,,aY, for ;,,rxy d,,tu and cnn
victions followed. He also ruled that a
man who was of good repute must not be
turned down as witness because he was a
detective Also that where the league
employed detectives and furnished evidence
upon which convictions were secured, the
league was entitled to the infOrmer's half
of the fines. Under these rulings the sale |
of liquor was almost completely suppressed |
and at the same time the league was kept |
in funds for the effective prosecution of
the work. The thanks Of the good people |
of the county are due and. am sure. are
cordially given Judge Henderson for his
assistance in the good work.
After several years of league work
neighbor said to me, Before the league
was organized had almost concluded that
the Local Option Law could not be enforced,
but you have proved that it can be, and
you deserve the thanks of the good people
of our county"
In the IS years of our work the league
has had as its Presidents The writer. John
H. Gassaway, Warren Choate, Asa M. Sta
bier. W. A. Maxwell, Thomas J. Owen,
Alfred Wilson, DIR. Augustus Stabler, Rev.
T. d. Richards. Rev. j. H. Smith and now
M. B. Montgomery. and these men deserve
to 60 upon record as the "Old Guard" of the
Montgomery County Anti-Saloon League.
Among the early and very active mem
bers of the league, mention should be made
of Rev. james L. Lodge, D. D. and DR..
Andrews who were both active and eff
Gent in our law-enforcement work.
B. H. MILLER