Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-03-15
PUTS
UP DEFENSE ON
LOCAL OPTION
AssembIyman Tells Orange
Church People Legislation on
Question Is Futile.

Meetings to urge the adoption of
the Gaunt local option bill by the
legislature were held in a half-dozen
churches in this city. and suburbs yes
terday. One of the most interest 'nG
was that in the Orange M. E. Church
where Assem- blyman e. Morgan Bar
radale appeared as an opponent of the
bill. OF late he has been the target
for clerical speakers and was also in
formed that he would be oppoted by
them II he ever sought office again.
Despite the tone of his remarks yes
terday, Mr.. Barradale won express
sions of respect from his church audi
ence for h'e courage.
In addition to explaining his reasons
for opposing the local option measure,
Mr.. Darradale defended Senator Aus
ten Colgate, who voted against the
bill. and who had been attacked by
Samuel Wilson. q worker for the Anti
Saloon League. After explaining his
presence at the meeting, MT. Barra-
dale, who is a resident OF Orange, took
up the talk of Mr.. Wilson. who had
departed, and assured that gentleman
he was proud to be q citizen Of New
Jersey, despite the sarcastic remarks
of that speaker.
Legislators Use Judgment.
Mr.. Brradale indorsed Senator
Colgate's attitude against the
measure. He said that II he
thought he could wipe out the
LIQUOR enterpr Sc In New Jersey
by signing his name to "a scrap OF
paper he would gladly do 1t, but he
was aware of the futility of seeking
to end the evil by legisla ton. He
said local option was not an issue in
the last election in Essex county. and
that consequently representatives at
Trenton had to use their judgment
in voting on the Gaunt b IL.
He told of his years OF campaign
ing for the past two years In his own
interests and previously for others,
vet had never heard local option
raised as an issue at any pubic
meeting where he spoke. He SAID
public sentiment could settle the
matter of saloons in the country as
it has in East Orange.
"There they have one saloon to
every 1000 people. Here in Orange
,.e have one in every 400, and in
West Orange they have one for
every $50. These communit es are all
regulated by tho same measure-the
so-called bishors' bill. If the people
don't want so many saloons East Or
ange shows them how to avoid
Them"
give us a chance" said man in
the audience.
.sYou have your chance under the
present law retorted the speaker.
He continued to explain his opposi-
tion to the referendum, and included
the initiative and the recall in his
criticism of the facts out of the West.
These do not afford us a solution
continued "How can folks express
their opinions in public questions on
election day when. as in Oregon. they
and a long list OF questions In type
80 small they use a microscope to
decipher them. Why after we spend
three months at Trenton on problems
10 ner cent, of the Legislature do not
understand the fundamentals of
every problem before them"
Mr.. Barradale assured the church
folk that IL the local option issue
was to have been made political Is
sue at the last election candidates
could have Deen raWeo anu the puo-
lie vote on the merits or dement's Of
the proposition.
Hot Talk from Wilson.
Samuel Wilson. whe opened the
talks favoring support of the local
option bill said that on his way to
the Orange meeting he noticed saloons
in Market street this city. We're 'all
wide open" In one place he declared
he counted thirty-nine men and in
another forty. He said 1t would ap-
near that the liquor interests have a
'cIub over the heads OF tre adm'nis-
move to enforce the Sunday closing
iaws," He further asserted that with
the Governor of Pennsy'vania push
Ing Ing the fight for local option law
In that commonwealth New Jersey
froptsu-ed IN Pssr Z, Column T.,