Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-10-23
fU[T0N GRANGE
of This Grange on The
$50 -2-- :
. Home Rule Amendment Expressed
In A Paper Read Before The
Grange and Adopted By it.

The ~followings paper was read on
the Home Rule" amendment and
adopted by Fulton Grange as it's
sentiment on the liquor question.
The Home Rule Amendment.
1.-The Anti-Saloon League early in
1914 announced it's program for state
wide prohibition to be submitted to
the voters in 1915.
The brewers, knowing this and al
so fearing that women would be CIV
en the ballot in 1914, framed the fol-
lowing amendment to be submitted to
the voters this November.
Article XIV, Section ga.
No law shall be passed or be in eff
or giving away of Intoxicating liquors
operative in a subdivision of the state
upon the option of the electorsthereof,
or upon any other contingency, which
has municipal corporation or a town.
ship outside of municipal corporations
therein All alws in contravention of
the foregoing are hereby repealed.
Nor shall any law hereafter be
passed prohibiting the sale, furnish
ing or giving away of intoxicating Ii
quors throughout the state at large.
This is known as the "Home Rule
amendment. Many think it should
read "home ruin" amendment.
Eminent jurists throughout the
state have advanced the following
ideas concerning the amendment. 1t
is far worse. than even it's foes i'm
agine. The. liquor men themselves
admit that if adopted it will destroy
county local option and prevent the
hibitions or further local option legis-
lation. 1t will jeopardize the law pro-
hibiting the sale of liquor to minors
or habitual .drunkards. It will in
validate the law against selling on
Sunday.
In short, if the brewers amend
ment is adopted Ohio will be the only
state in the union with a constitution
which bars moral progress and ties
the hands of her people so they can
not defend themselves by legislation
from the evils of the liquor traffic.
1t takes from the legislature the pow
er to pass p~rohibitory laws of town.
ship, county or state wide effect. 1t
takes from the people the right to act
on such laws by initiative or referen-
dunn. The judges who have given
these opinions are legal experts. They
are men of high personal character
and well known ability. They are not
temperance fanatics. Their business
it to know the law and from this reach
sound conclusions. Which will you
believe, these leading %jurists or paid
attorneys of the brewers? Oh yes,
they claim that it will take away no
right which the people now enjoy ex-
.cept the Rose cottnty. local option
law. They say the Rose law does not
give cities, "home rule" in counties
where the rural vote was needed to
make them dry. IF the "Home Rule"
amendment carries saloons may be
planted on every foot of our dry ter
ritory. If right wins the state will
outlaw the entire traffic and the fed
eral law will protect US from the ship
ping in of liquors. The testimony of
governors of the following prohibition
state, Maine. Kansas, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, Mississippi, North Caro-
lima and Tennessee, show that prohibit
ton laws have contributed largely to
the moral, social and economic well
fare of these states. That they have
given d higher type of manhood and
w~oma1hood and that the people are
better fed, better clothed, better
schooled and better citizens. The
banks have more money, the stores
sell MORE goods and real estate is
worth more. Crime is diminished,
business increased and politics and
government have been relieved of one
of their most ~corrupting influences.
Under good authority this statement
may be made.b There is not a tax
payer in the state who can say he is
paying more taxes because the saloons
have been voted out. The states
which have prohibition have not in
creased their taxes, undoubtedly they
have d decreased rate of taxation be-
cause they do not have to take care of
the back door product of the saloon.
Happily the voters of Ohio are to
have the privilege of voting on a state
wide prohibition amendment and the
"Home Rulep amendment. If you
vote "'yes", on the prohibition amend
ton vlpd
ment, then vote "no" on the "Home
Rule" amendment. If you do not you
will not co~unteract the vote of the
man who votes Eyes" on the "Home
Rule" amendment. Last week Virgin
ia was added to the list of dry states.
Let US hope that ere another month
has passed Ohio, through the efforts
of those who are working for the
betterment of our state and who truly
wish to be their brothers keeper by
removing temptation from him, may
be added to the list.
SHAKESPEARE CLUB.