Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1915-03-16

a provision in the Act giving a reasonable
time, after it's ratification, before il be-
comes operative, in order that those en-
gagged in the business may adjust their
analrs without too great sacrifice
| have no fault To find with the County
Unit Law. 1 have favored every advanced
step taken In its various amendments. IL
is "A step in the right direction, and has
been a great blessing to the Common
wealth. Under IL 106 counties have voted
dry; but the remaining counties contain "A
lation of the State The present law
seems Inadequate TO give relief to the peo-
pie OF most Of these counties. And again
the liquor interests, instead of showing
respect for the County Unit Law, and for
the will of the people as expressed at the
polls, have been cOntesting every election
where the result was dry, and going into
the courts with every possible TECHNICAL
ity, in an effort To defeat the viii Of the
people. Not only has this been their atti-
tude toward the law and It's enforcement.
but they have made it their business to
bitterly oppose every man who aspireS to
public office who does not take his orders
from them. \ Temperance man can not
run for any office In Kentucky, however
humble, without feeling the weight of
their wrath, expressed IN the usual way
Their efforts To dominate the politics or
the state have increased as county after
county has been added to the dry column,
until their influence has hecume "A menace
to popular government.
In view of all thts IL seems that there
is nut one Alt Ilbbi'4Als anu
that is To submit itNO the whole people
that we may know once and for an time
whether the people or the uquor interests
are 10 rule In Kenturky Not only Is this
the logic OF the situation. but il Is abso-
lutely fair. Who can be heard To say that
the people as whole haven't right 10
pass ON question so vitalN affecting
their moral and financial welfare We
submit good roads amendments and taxa
tion amendments Ia the whole people
why not submit this question Infinitely
more vital Ia them?
As stated above, / am not unmindful
OF the property interests Involved. lt is
to be regretted that moral reforms often
bring financial loss 10 some bat the pub
lie conscience just,iies the loss To the few
when ID means AN Infinitely greater saw
ing to the many. The onward march OF
Christian civilization must not be retarded
because a few men have invested their
money In the business constituting the
obstruction.
My familiarity with the financial affairs
OF the State. as a result Of eight years
experience (from 1900 10 1900 as Super
intendent Of Public Instruction and Sec
retary OF state. and as a member of the
Sinking Fund Board, leads mt TO the be-
system can be made as will readily reduce
the state debt and make good any de-
crease In revenues that might arise from
the loss OF the tax on liquors. And this
can be done without any Increase of the
tax rate. Saving state revenues is Just
as Important as producing them, With
the elimination OF the liquor business from
Kentucky the saving tO the state In crim-
inal prosecutions alone would be an enor-
nous item, and go far toward n solution
of the financial problem. II the money
spent for liquor In Kentucky, and for
criminal prosecutions growing out OF its
use can be saved, In half q dozen years
we can relieve the financial situation OF
the state and build Inacadahn road 10
every church and school house In the
Commonwealth.
Another large saving can he accom-
plished by the elimination Of all useless
Offices. and Il elected ! shall institute
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