La Junta tribune., 1914-10-24

en- nj random:
1T tthe liquor traffic) Is no long
er regarded as business In which
one has n natural or common law
right to engage"
"A license to sell Is not n contract
and creates no vested rights. but h .
mere temporary permit 20 do what
would otherwise be an offense
against the law
"A license to sell intoxicating 1iq-
uor Is not a vested or property
right. but a matter Of purely leEis-
lative grace which may be extended
or denied"
"A prohibitory statute. although
IL may deprive persons of the right
to pursue a business which was pre-
yiously lawful. and diminish the val
Ne OF property devoted to brewing or
distiliing. cannot be said 10 deprive
them OF their liberty or propcr,y
without due process OF law: nor a.
impair the OBLIGATIONS OF ~ontra. Is:
nor to discriminate against citizens
OF other states. or citizens OF the
United States: nor to be invalid a. q
regulation of foreign or interstate
commerce: nor TO conflict with the
United States internal revenue laws,
and il not an ex post facto law"
As far back rs iss5 the English
parliament passed an act by which
justices OF the peace were empov er-
ed To put away common ale selling
In towns and places where they
should think convenient and 10 take
suretics Of keepers Of ale houses in
their good behaviour And the H.
cense act Of 1851. above referred TO.
directed that the justices should take
from the persons whom they licensed
such bond ami surety by recosniT-
ance as they should think convenient.
and empowered them In quarter scs-
sion TO inquire Into and try breaches
by licensed persons OF the conditions
Of their r~eornixanccs. and cases Of
persons keeping ale houses without
license. and To punish the offend.
ers."
Thus for over four hundred years
Angio-SaSon Law concerning the iiq-
uor traffic. has bccn crystaiiizing In.
to absolute prohibition. and final re-.
lief from the ''intoierable hurts and
troubles" which during all that time
the traffic has Inflicted upon the
peoples.
II ought, from the foregoing. be
apparent that the decisions Of the
courts holding that the dissiiier and
brewer cannot be heard 70 complain
because the value Of their property
II diminished by prohibition. are
Just. and founded upon equity and
good conscience.
Nor can they say With reason that
snap judgment IL being taken against
them. For over four hundred years
the trend Of Anglo-saxon Law has
ben IN this direction. And In ihi.
country especially. the recent growth
Of public seutiment In favor Of pro.
hihition Of the LIQUOR traffic hss been
- pronounced. and the growth Of
dry tesrstov, 10 rapid. ~ 10 eoua.i.
tuts fair warning that the business
vas approarhins its Inevitable end.
The fus.asr claim is made tia: The
prohibition Of the liquor traffic do.
pssclates property valuss IN cities.
vscases ssoserooms ussd Tor saloons.
and hsFts business. Although Ia .
lafss city lite Dsavss. there might
~ . Temporary dsDrssssoa Ia ren.
lals,te eefsse lt thsss would b IN ai.
most immediate iaessass IL The gen.
ssal buslnsss q tAe city. caused By
ttsoviag ~ neaey. q Dressat spent
II ths saieeas, late tAs Legitimate
eAasas)s - tsH1A 1t \ elained that
tourists whe sew visit Desver wouid
larDsly . Wheso Drohiblsioa dld not
pssval1. e y tsue thss some tour.
lsls vesll 1sssst ~ city vhsre Ia.
usss eeu)1 ~ ~ ebasiaed. bus
eshess vou11 ~ Il fos that ven
peoeoa. Dot VIA natlssal pssAi.
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