The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-02-13
COUNTY Option /
PASSES S / SENATE ! !
Adams, Griggs and Jones Vote.
For Act. Peterson and Healy
.. Opposed.
Advocates Of Measure Are Cont
dent of Victory In Lower
House. F>#

County Option was victorious in the
senate a week ago last Thursday, the
vote being taken as The Labor World /
was going to press. After a heated
debate lasting four hours a vote was
taken which showed that the bill had
SO votes in favor and 81 opposed
Thirty four votes were all that were
needed to pass the measure. All the
senators were present to cast their
votes.
Adams, Griggs and Jones Of St.
Louis county are recorded as in favor
of the bill while Healy and Peterson
are against it.
Practically every amendment Of
fered by the opposition was voted
down.. Minor amendments were ac-#9
cepted by the introducer of the meas
ure among which was one allowing
a. larger opportunity for voters to
cast their ballot at a special election.
After the first set-to. over an
amendment there was no doubt as to
the final outcome of the bill.
Show Enthusiasm. &
When the Lieutenant Governor an
nounced that the bill had passed there
was brief but spirited demonstra-
ton from the county option forces.
Senator Lende Of Yellow Medicine
was the most effective speaker for
the county option people and with
forceful oratory answered the obs.
jections of those opposed to the
measure. In answer to the argument
that one corner of the county should
not vote to force. the opposite, side of
the county dry against the will of the
desires of the people of the comp1u-
nifty Lende said, >"Whatever. the dis
tance. these people anywhere in IS
country have a moral right and az
county shall be wet or dry. It is a.
question Of character lSenator Sulli q
van of Stearns had declared that the
evil Of liquor rested in proportion as
person was able to govern himself
in its usel: Mr.. President, and it is q
question of character in this way.
Suppose there is a community IN
which there is q sal loon man e.
ing some distance from that commit
nifty has occasion to go into that COM
munity often on business. That sa-s
loon is temptation and in time be-
4lsi
quor 1t marks the doom of his fam
ily.e Shall it be said then that those
people who though not right in thei
community, but who are jeopardizedI
| by this saloon in a place where they
often gather, have no right to vote
upon whether the county as a whole
shall be wet or dry"
| Respects Some Liquor Sellers.
! Senator Lende stated that there
! were many saloon keepers in his
county (Yellow Medicine) for whom
he had hundred times more re-
spect than for certain temperance
| men," -,
To Refund License Fees.
After some discussion Senator Pee
terson of Clay county consented to an.
| amendment to the bill offered by
Senator Duxbury which made it obli-s
gatory upon governing bodies within
the county to refund license money
| covering a period beyond that In
| which the saloons may Operate. The
bill gives the saloon keeper 50 days
within which to dispose of his stock
| but no provision is made to care for
those who temporarily at least will
be forced out of employment. It pro-
| vides that rs per cent of the electors
! of county may petition for a speciAlz
? election on the question and that
names once appended to the petitions
cannot be-, removed.
. County optionists are jubliant over
the outcome Of the vote in the senate
and have high hopes that the bill will
! carry in the house by a safe majority.