Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-04-07

good for political party. 1t has no
other" warrant to be.
The Real Question
'"rhe issue now joined is a plain
and fair one. The Williams local OPP
tion bill is, | submit a perfectly fair
and reasonable measure. 1t is not
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 decide for themselves
whether or not licenses shall issue
for the sale of intoXicants in the sew
eral counties of Pennsylvania If you
believe in the rule of the people, II
you can. trust the people, if you are
a real American, you cannot deny
the fairness of this proposition.
This is not an issue to persecute
any one. 1t has nothing to do with
the question of prohibition as such.
1t is solely and avowedly submitting
of a mighty question directly to the
people What right have the delegated
representatives of the people to deny
the people a right that is as funda-
mental as that by which they choose
delegated representatives? If the
people are not to be given this right
by what reason are they given any
right? They rule in this country and
giving them their own is giving what
we cannot justly deny
Politics Shouldn't Enter
This question is not a partisan
one. 1t ought never to have become
political issue. 1t is bound to work
harm and not good to any political
party espousing it. The selection and
election. of public servants ought
never to hinge upon this traffic. The
day has come when no party can
stand for it and survive. From across
the sea, from the Dominion to the
north, form the penitentiaries, and
from the hearts of the loyal people
this great State one can readily hear
the cumulative demand, let this issue
out of party concern, let it be with
the people. They can and they will
settle it better than we can.
Local Option and the Bench
"The granting of licenses has in
many counties worked harm to the
judiciary. Men are chosen judges not
on the basis of their fitness to be the
great bulwarks of justice, but upon
the question whether or not they will
grant licenses. No judge should be
obliged to deal with this issue. His
election and his official life should be
as far removed from the license situa-
ton as our love for a pure Judiciary
can secure. Every attorney in Penn
sylvania is an officer of the court,
he ought to be in the front of this
contest to protect the judiciary of our
county courts from the incubus of
this nonjudicial service.
"If we love this great Common
wealth as we should, If her history
is our conscious pride and her future
our definite concern, ! am confident
we should be free enough, brave
enough, fair enough. just enough, to
enact this law and give the people
the opportunity to act for themselves
on this matter. They can settle it
and settle it right"
The Governor last night received the
following letter from Mayor Blanken-
burg:
my dear Governor: When local
option was submitted to the vote OF
the Freemen of Pennsylvania in 1871,
some friends of mine, prominent in af-
| fairs, bitterly opposed the proposition
to limit the sphere of liquor through
popular decision at the polls. Discus
sing the question. l asked one of the
opponents, How would you like to
have a saloon next door TO you, OF