Bisbee daily review., 1915-08-10
GILMORE WOULD HAVE
ARIZONA VOTE AGAIN
ON LIQUOR QUESTION
Head Of National Model License
League Says Wishes of Our
People Were Not CryStallized
Into Law.

i've constitutions one OF these, which /
is engaged in keeping in touch with
the situation throughout the country, |
is the National Model License League |
with headquarters in Louisville, Ken
lucky. In the following letter from
the Leagues President to The Review,
the situation in Arizona is discussed: |
Editor of The Review.
Bisbee, Arizona.
Dear SIR
Having devoted years to a study Of
the liquor question, am very much
interested in the symposium Of views
on the Arizona situation started
through The Review by A. r. Buck
nam. secretary of the Temperance
Federation Of Arizona.
Clearly the present amendment, as
construed by the executive branch of
the State government, fails to crystal
lie into law the wishes of Arizona
people. AS The Review has pointed
out i'm very forcible manner i'm its edi-
torial columns. the people who voted
for il, for the most part contemplated
no more real prohibition than Kan
sas and other so-called prohibition
states prohibition of the local
dealer but no interference with the in
dividuaTs right to obtain liquor out
side his own state for his own use.
Secretary Buchanan, in letter to
The Review on the subject, has eX-
pressed the opinion that the citizen
should be protected in the Legitimate
use" of liquor, adding and 1 contend
that legitimate use includes personal
use"
Certain # is, therefore, that large
percentage OF Arizonans voted for the
amendment under a misrepresentation
to say the least. if a newspaper like
The Review and an antilicense leader
like Mr. Buchanan, both influential
workers for the amendment, agree
that the Interpretation given it is con-
trary to that presented by its pro
ponents.
This being conceded, it seems to
me that the only safe way out is an
other effort to learn the will of the
people. But this time. let there be
no hasty and ill-considered effort at
drafting the amendment Let that
proposed bit of legislation state in
clear, concise language just what it
proposes
Furthermore. ] would suggest that
a more dHngent effort be made to
learn exactly what it is the people of
Arizona want and TO that end | would
urge a little different ballot from that
used heretofore.
Before / explain this, let me digress
a little to set forth the reason for
this. / note that The Review, Mr..
buchanan and others are united in ox-
pressing their undated opposition to
the saloon as the means of supplying
that liquor for personal use to which
lthey contend Arizonans are entitled.
! Mr. Buchanan puts it succinctly in
this way:
"The people voted to get rid Of the
saloon not because they wanted to
quit drinking. although some Of them
did, but because they wanted to get
rid of its political influence, and, most
lof all, because OF its sociability which
Heads to excessive drinking"
This diagnosis of the Arizona atti-
tudo toward the liquor trade is SINH
lar to that made in certain other of
our Western States that have lately
ehhraced prohibition. Whether the
saloon is rightly or wrongly blamed
there can be no question that is has
many enemies who are willing to
risk much i'm the effort to strike il
down. This being the case, why
, should this animosity be permitted To
do damage I'm other quarters as well
lWhy should it be allowed to conhscatC
property, take away jobs and take
! away state revenues? Isn't the de
struction of AN these merely TO get
rid of one disliked method of retailing
somewhat too radical?
WITH this in view and realizing tina
the pe0ple are the ones to determine
just Whit they want in this matter 4
occurred 20 me that the amlihed ballo
to which I have referred would ofe
a SOLUTION Oh Az ululAullltns
Under this, foSr propositions woul'
be submitted, as iollows.
II Absolute prohibition with liquor
/. shut out completely, wen for persona
use but admitted for sacramento an
mechanical purposes
O. Hotel and Cafe Licenses: Thes
e would permit the sale OF liquor b
hotels, restaurants and cafes withou
bars, screens of perpendicular drinl
i ing
d. Merchant Liceses: These woul
permit grocers and druggists VIII
have been in business two years @
le more, to sell liquor in original pacl
S, ages not TO be consumed on the pr
&. misses.
Saloon Licenses. This would Civ
y return to the old system.
a 10 seems TO me that a ballot draw
along these lines would enable th
viii of the people 10 be made know
IN without any chance Of misconstru
iy ton.
No. Either the hotel and cafe license
the merchant license would, In d
ewes OF some. melt the main objection