Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-04-07
WEDNESDAY EVENING. APRIL Z
LOCAL OPTION

IN the accompanying two paragraphs
Governor Brumbaugh, before the
Il mass meeting at Chestnut Street
Hall last evening, summed up very
briefly, but pointedly, the situation re-
iating to local option in Pennsylvania
at this time:
The issue now Joined is a plain
and fair one. The Williams local
option bill is, l submit, perfectly
fair and reasonable measure. 1t is
not a wet" or dry measure. Only
false men and ignorant men will
hold this. The whole issue is,
Shall the people themselves have
the right once in three years to de-
eide for themselves whether or not
license shall issue for the sale of
lntoYicants in the several counties
of Pennsylvania." If you believe
trust the people, If you are real
American, you cannot deny the fair
ness of this proposition.
This is not an Issue to persecute
any one. 1t has nothing to do with
the question of prohibition as such.
il is solely and avowedly n submit
ting of "A mighty question directly
TO the people. What right have the
delegated representatives of the peo-
pie to deny the people right that
is as fundamental as that by which
they choose delegated representa-
tives? I. the people are not to be
given this right by what reason arc
in this country. and giving them
their own is giving what we cam
not justly deny.
Nobody can gainsay the truth of
that, and in the face of it any legisla-
or who votes against the local option
bill does so because he prefers to bow
10 the will OF the liquor crowd rather
than to that of the people. That's all
icf ff he
shall rum rule? The Legislators must
decide the issue at this time, but next
year, If they now fail to heed the trend
of public opinion, the people will de-
eide. And when the people do decide,
ii will go hard with aspirants for re-
election who voted against local option
at this session. Faithlessness now
spells defeat sure and certain in the
future.
If any doubt exists in the mind of
any legislator that there is popular
demand for this legislation, let him
make a test for himself Let him go
abroad in whatsoever locality he may
choose and take q poll of the first
hundred people he may meet. The
result will convince him. Wherever
men congregate the preponderance of
opinion is that Pennsylvania is bound
to have a local option law, and the
longer the delay, the more drastic it
will be.
One of the peculiar phases of the
situation is that this belief is not con-
fined to teetotalers. Men who do not
hesitate to admit their fondness for
alcoholic beverages are not only among
those who believe that local option
is only a matter of very short time,
but are actually to be found in favor
of its enactment. Doubtless many such
would vote wet" if it came down to a
as Americans they believe in the rule
of the majority.
The only radical antilocal optionists
in Pennsylvania are the men who. in
one way or another, make the Iiuuor
business yield them a proft-not al
ways in money, perhaps-but profit.
nevertheless.
The decent, fair-minded people of
this State are behind Governor Brum-
baugh, and If they are denied what
they now rightfully demand, there can
be little question about them taking
the advice of United States Senator
oliver. who told them last night to go
outside the Republican party next year,
If that should become necessary, to
elect legislators who shall be pledged
to deal honestly with them in this
matter.