Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1912-03-14
The Liquor Question.

Dear Mr. King. Editor St. Mary's
Beacon:--In q few days our State
Legislature will decide whether The
State wide Local Option law shall be-
submitted to the voters Of the State
at the next general election.
would like 10 explain the position Of
the Catholic clergy Of the County
on this liquor question, which, by
the way. Is not purely political is.
sue, but social, moral aud rellgi.
Gus one as we'll. This explanation
may be due TO those not Of our faith
who at this time must naturally look
for some action on the part Of Catho.
lies, since we form the largest part
Of our County 8 population.
We shall not nov discuss Local
Option or its merits. II the Bill IL
passed 10 submit the issue to vote
AZ the mex, State Election, we shall
support il iffor no other reason than
to give ia fair trial. No one cau
object TO that; for we can then soc
for ourselves and al close range. its
good qualities and It's defects.
But as the fate OF the Local Option
bill seemed very doubtful at the
opening Of the Legislature (t is still
more doubtful today) wrote early
10 January to one Of our representa-
lives, Mr.. Dorsey, and 10 the name
oLmy fellow priests and the great
majority OF our Catholic people, re.
qussted him 70 be prepared 20 sub.
NIT immt dlately an alternative mea-
sure for the restrain Of the liquor
traffic In our County should the To-
cal option bill 20 defeated 10 the
Legislature. This alternative pro.
vides that at the next County Fec.
ton our voters be allowed 10 ratify
or reject local graduated high H.
cense law ascending toSl50 the frst
year, 1900 the secon and $500
(the limit in the third year second
ly that no new liquor licenses be is
sued for any store or place within
one bali mile OF school or Church.
and that when those who now. hold
licenses within the half mile limit
shall cease to conduct the business
personally, their successors individ.
ually, or as firm, or in the old firm 4
name, shall not be granted a II.
cense TO continue the sale OF intoxi-
cants.
! wrote later to suggest that IL
in the judgment OF our wisest and
most conservative citizens the $500
rate seemed too high. 1t might be
mod fed somewhat. | also said
that Leonardtown and Mechan.
icsyille might be excepted from
the halt-mile limit La; but
we think that the license rate
for those places should not ha
less than $500 as a limit. | h.
the weightiest reasons for advocat.
ing this twofold measure. and shall
gladly furnish them to the public or
TO individuals. But | confess that
without fearless aud vigilsnt consta.
bles and conscientious mag istrates,
no number OF laws can remedy exist
ing evils. Mr., Dorsey is happily
recovering from his recent grave
illness, and we shall expect him,
should the Local Option bill be lost
to take firm stand agaist the lob
lyists and obtain for our County
from the Legislature, the privilege
OF settling this question one way or
another In November. We are de-
termined to go with our people into
the contest and win from one or the
other OF our political parties some
effectual remedy for the liquor
abuses prevalent In this the fairest
of Maryland Counties-St. Mary's.
Sincerely Yours,
L. J, KELLY, S. ].