The Marshall republican. [volume] (Marshall, Saline County, Mo.) 1899-1914, 1914-04-10
COUNTY UNIT LAW

The last Missburi Legislature NJ
ter a hard fought battle passed by
most decisive majority OF 80 to i5
I'm the House and 20 to IL In the
Senate, the Full County Unit Local
option Bill. This measure Is n pure
~ democratic one. giving to each
county as a separte unit the right
OF deciding the dramshop question
within its borders. Under this law
cities OF $500 or above would OF ne
nessity vote with the balance OF the
county on the question. This would
give to the entire county either the
right to have saloons or to shut them
out. The liquor interests of the
state determined the people should
not have the privilege OF voting up
on their business as long as II could
be prevented and they used the Ref
erendum TO hold up the measure for
two years. Paid agents OF the traf-
fic as we'll as the saloonkeepers
themselves circulated petitions until
sufficient names were secured to In
woke the referendum. The question
IN now up for settlement at the COM
ing general election In November.
The question raised not only In
wolves the County Unit Local Option
law but involves the more esrious
question OF whether or not the Viis-
souri, Legislature shall be sustained
In its action when II has followed
clearly the expressed will Of the ma
jority OF the state In the enactment
OF the law. II the purpose OF this
referendum succeeds In defeating
county Unit Il practically establishes
the principal that no important leg
islation passed by the legislature can
stand II any considerable interest
corrupt or otherwise oppose such leg
islation.
As has been proven by past ex-
pcrience the initiative and referen-
dun raise such peculiar difficulties
that Il is very difficult TO secure a
law by these methods. One peculiar
ly unfortunate measure among a
large number OF initiative or refer
endum propositions has been sufii-
cient to carry down to defeat any
number OF other meritorious propo-
sitions.
The County Unit Law Is opposed
most bitterly by the entire liquor In
terests of the state as In all proba-
bility II would give Missouri q total
OF more than 100 entirely dry coun-
ties. II would compel some of our
middle sized cities to submit to the
will of the majority in the entire
county, thing, of course, the lig-
uor interests are always opposed TO-
but against which no legitimate ar
gument can be made. In no other
state In the union can cities be yot-
ed separately from the counties In
which they are located under the
County Local option Law and it's
nlkH ttuit hicoooht WWo seHs'o -
line with what is conceded every
where else. The law Is eminently
fair unless a majority vote can be
called unfair. Missouri spoke out
, in the choice OF the Legislature In
1912 on this question as this was
perhaps the most prominent issue
The people from every nook and cor
ner of the state urged. the passage OF
this measure. A majority yes
vote on this referendum In Novem'
ber will put into active operation
this law that now is imperative thru
the Referendum.
The Anti-Saloon League Is now
organizing the entire. state of Mis-
souri, county by county. In this II
has pledged the fullest cooperation
of the w. G. T, y. and many Other
church and civic organizations
Chillicothe Constitution -