Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1915-03-18

a provision in the Act giving reasonable
time, after its ratification before 1t be-
comes operative, In order that those enr
gagged In the business may adjust their
affairs without too great sacrifice.
| have no fault to find with the County
Unit Law. ! have favored every advanced
step taken in its various amendments. IL
is a step in the right direction, and has
been a great blessing to the Common
wealth. Under II log counties have voted
dry; but the remaining counties contain a
very considerable part OF the total pOpu-
latiOn of the State. The present law
seems inadequate TO give relief TO the peo-
pie OF most OF these counties. And again,
the LIQUOR interests, instead Of showing
respect for the County Unit Law and Tor
the will OF the people as expressed at the
polls, have been contesting every election
where the result was dry and going into
the courts with every possible technical
fly. In an effort to defeat the will Of the
people Not only has this been their atti-
tude toward the law and its enforcement,
but they have made II their business to
bitterly oppose every man who aspires to
public office who does not take his orders
from them. A temperance man can not
run for any office In Kentucky, however
humble, without feeling the weight Of
their wrath, expressed In the usual way.
Their efforts TO dominate the politics of
the State have increased as county after
county has been added to the dry column,
until their influence has become menace
to popular government.
In view Of all this II seems that there
is but one solution to the problem, and
that is 10 admit II TO the whole people
that we may know once and for all time
whether the people or the liquor interests
are TO rule In Kentucky. Not only Is this
the logic OF the situation, but II is abso-
lutely fair. Who can be heard to say that
the people as 4 whole haven't right to
pass on question so vitality Affecting
their. moral and financial welfare? We
submit good roads amendments and taxa
ton amendments TO the whole people
why not submit this question, infinitely
more vital to them?
As stated above, | am not unmindful
OF the property interests involved. II Is
TO be regretted that moral reforms often
bring financial loss to some; but the pub
lie conscience iustifies the loss to the few
when IL means an Infinitely greater saw
ing TO the many The onward march OF
Christian civilization must not be retarded
because a few men have invested theii
money in the business constituting the
obstruction.
Nv familiarity with the financial affairs
of the State, as a result Of eight years
experience from 1900 TO 1900 as super
intendent OF Public Instruction and Sec
rotary OF state, and as n member of the
Sinking Fund Board, leads me to the be-
lief that such n revision of our taxation
system can be made as will readily reduce
the State debt, and make good any de-
crease In revenues that might arise from
the loss OF the tax on liquors. And this
can be done without any increase of The
tex rate. Saving State revenues is ~
~ important as producing them. VIII
the elimination OF the liquor business from
Kentucky the saving to the State In Grim.
inal prosecutions alone would be an enor-
NOUS item, and go far toward n solution
OF the financial problem. II the money
spent for liquor In Kentucky, and fol
criminal prosecutions growing out OF its
use can be saved, In half dozen years
we can relieve the financial situation OF
the State and build macadam road to
every church and school house In the
Commonwealth.
Another large saving can be accom-
pllshed by the elimination OF all useless
Offices and II elected / shall institute