The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1915-03-17

a provision in the Act giving a reasonable
time. after Its ratification, before II be-
comes operative. In order that those en-
gagged in the business may adjust their
AFFAIRS without too great a sacrifice.
have no fault to fnd with the County
Unit Law. ! have favored every advanced
step taken In It's various amendments. 1t
Is a step in the right direction, and has
wealth. Under II 106 counties have voted
dry; but the remaining counties contain a
very considerable part OF the total popu-
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
people. Not only has this been their atti-
tude toward the law and Its enforcement,
but they have made II 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, howeve
humble. without feeling the weight OF
their wrath. expressed In the usual way,
Their efforts to dominate the politics Of
the State have increased as county after
county has been added TO the dry column,
until their influence has become a menace
to popular government.
ls but one solution to the problem, and
that Is to submit II to the whole people
that we may know once and for all time
whether the people or the liquor interests
the logic OF the situation. but II Is abso-
lutely fair. Who can be heard TO say that
the people as whole haven't a right to
their moral and financial welfare? we
submit good roads amendments and taxa
ton amendments TO the whole people
more vital to them?
As stated above, ! am not unmindfu
OF the property interests involved. IL Il
TO be regretted that moral reforms often
bring financial loss to some; but the pub
when II means an Infinitely greater saw.
Ing to the many. The onward march oi
christian civilization must not be retard ed
because a few men have invested theiI
nhste ~ 'he business constituting the
My familiarity with the financial afrair,
OF the state, as result OF eight years
intendent OF Public Instruction and Sec.
retaIy OF state, and as a member OF ths
sinking Fund Board. leads me TO the be.
nsf that such a revision OF our taxation
system can be made as will readily reduce
the state debt. and make good any de.
crease In revenues that might arise from
tns loss OF the tax on liquors. And this
can De done without any increase OF fhs
tsx rate. Saving State revenues is tns,
a. Important as producing them. Win
tne elimination OF the liquor business from
kentucky the saving TO the State In Grim.
lnal prosecutions alone would be an enor.
moes Item. and go far toward a solution
of the financial problem. III the mnne,
spent Tor liquor In kentucky, and ~,
criminal prosecutions growing out OF H.
use can be saved. In half dozen Wears
ye can relieve the financial SITUATION ~,
NE state and build a macadam ROAD ~
VERY % church and school house in the ~
shsr large saving can be accom-.
~ the elimina uon Of ali uselss.
and u elected sbsii instisaass iss'sss !