Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-08
Does the Liquor Industry Invite Forfeiture
of Its Franchise7

of Its Franchise2
| THE assertion that the state declared
Aagainst local option last fall is barren of
accuracy. No party declared specifically
against IT, the omission of a local option
plank from the Republican platform being
nothing more than an evasion of the issue.
That evasion Doctor Brumbaugh specia-
cally remeded by his unequivocal dcclara-
tlon in favor of local option. His tremen-
dous vote was in fact an expression of pub
lie confidence in his sincerity, and thousands
upon thousands of citizens voted for him
because they believed that he would utilize
every power at his command to translate
his definite policy on the liquor question
into statute law.
No party was bold enough to challenge
local option sentiment by definite decara-
ton against it, The Republican party was
dedicated to anti-local option only by secret
agreements made by politicians who were
incompetent to bind the Commonwealth.
They, It is true, accepted n "slush fund" of
thousands of dollars from the liquor ring
and contracted to thwurt the will Of the
people at Harrisburg. But for the Legisla.
ture to countenance that agreement and
consider itself as bought and paid for would
be so vile a betrayal of public interests that
no party could survive the scorn that would
be heaped on it as result
What is It that the Legislature is asked
to do? Not to legislate any man out of busi-
cry, not to lock the doors Of one saloon. 1t
is asked merely to give the several counties
the right to decide for themselves what
they wish to do. 1t is asked to make the
liquor question a county question, to give
to the liquor interests in every county the
right of appeal to the whole electorate of
that county. Hopeless, indeed, and inde
fensible must any cause be that is afraid to
stand the test of a popular election and lifts
it's hands in suppcation to the Legislature
to prevent the people from outlawing it if
they desire 1t is we'll for citizens to keep
the point clear in their minds. Legislation
against liquor is not asked; legislation to
permit the counties to vote liquor out If
they desire is what local option means,
The "personal-liberty" argument cannot
stand analysis. Mr.. Barchfeld's theory that
the right to buy and drink alcohol in all its
forms is IAN absolute right of human lib
erty as much as the right to buy other
food" is obsolete. The right" to buy
pistols the right" to use opium, the
right" to traffic in cocaine, the right" to
sell food that undermnes the public health
all these so-called rights" have been ex-
tlnguished by common consent But there
is one right that is everywhere understood,
for it is absolute, and that is the right of
government to prohibit nusances. When
public opinion deliberately determines that
the liquor traffic is a nuisance, the ques-
tion of its right to exist vanishes imme-
diatey and it has rights, but merely such
privileges as the majority through govern
ment forms, may fit to give it. The
liquor industry enjoys a franchise subject
to forfeiture, a franchise which is extin-
guishable whenever the majority so Wills
The right to outlaw booze" is no longer
debatable. 1t has been established and rec
ognized in State after State, by court after
court.
The liquor ring, then, holds no promise
from the Commonwealth of passive acques.
cence in present conditions.
License or no license is not now the issue
Personal liberty" is not involved in any
way in the battle, but local self-government
is vitally involved,
Outlawed by industry, condemned by
science, excorated by moralsts and de-
plored by conservative citizens. the liquor
industry at this time must be on its good
behavior and endeavor as best it may to
correct the abuses most commonly associated
with it. If 1t is to survive at all. For it to OPP
pose the recognition of an established Ameri-
can principle, to barter with politicians,
to try all the old tricks which elsewhere
have brought it into disrepute, is to invite
destruction. 1t is a time to compromise,
not to stand bull-headed and obstinate; a
time to yield in order to avoid ultimate ex-
tinction.
The liquor ring is ill-advised and it Is rid
ing for a fall.
Madame Curie is just a woman after all,