Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-22
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Temperance
Option-Another Citizen Considers 1t
Falacy

which your paper is a most valuable source
of Information and instruction.
AS preliminary and fundamental prop
osition | question the right of 81 per cent.
OF the electorate to determine the use of
property, the habits of life of the other 40
per cent Local option a general PROPOSE.
ton is fallacy, and in its application to
the liquor traffic il is more than a fallacy;
1t is crime, If the reasons given for this
particular application are true.
II the traffic in alcoholic liquors ls In
herently wrong, II 1t is a public menace, IL
1t degrades mankind and undermines the
foundation of government, then a majority
vote cannot make it right. In such case it
becomes great general moral and gov
ernmental question to be settled by broad
comprehensive application of the principles
and powers of government.
To treat 1t with local option Is puerile !:
II is wicked compromise with iniquity.
we cannot. however. in dealing with this
question, ignore the fact that the people
through their Government, national and
state. have always been In partnership
with the liquor trade, and In the way of
revenue have received large share of the
profits, larger share so far as the brewers
and dstillers are concerned, than have
those engaged in production Recognition
in law, division in profits these have given
the business a standing which involves
rights beyond the power of any Just local
power to abrogate.
These intere~ q have paid into the United
States Treasury more than $4,000, 600 900
in the last 0 years and yet the total cap
ital invested is only about $500. 900 900.
Compensation upon a reasonable valuation
would only require the payment of a small
proportion of the profits paid to the ma
lority beneftciaries, the people of the United
States.
The retail trade, of course, is on a differ
n ha eia mud In anff Iae- Hnn 4
in manner to Indicate that 1t was on an
unstable foundation and carried with IL risks
that might well deter a wise man from
associating himself with it,
That the general conduct of the business
has been bad must be conceded, but this
does not affect fundamental principles of
right, or right based upon any use and en-
joyment by consent OF the people and ap-
proval of government. The landmarks OF
law have defined and established rights
which ought not in Justice TO be annuled
without compensation.
The political activity OF the men in the
liquor trade has not been in behalf of new
laws with increased privileges. but to pro-
tect the old landmarks of legislation.
They have been the victims OF grating
officeholders and political holdup men to an
extent almost inconceivable And while they
have been blackJacked continually the men
who have bled them have been made Gov
ernors and United States Senators as we'll
as crowned with lesser honors by the very
individuals who are denouncing the whole
liquor traffic Any corruption of the elec.
torate by liquor money has been engineered
by the Organization leaders This is espe-
cially true in Pennsylvania, as know but
these contributions have never been reported
in the sworn statements OF the committees
who have received them.
IL this question is ever treated honestly
these official perjurers will take their places
with lesser criminals in the penitentiary.
In the great work OF revelation and pun
will the EVENING LEDGER perform
its duty without personal favor or partisan
prejudice?
Not TO protect the brewers and their asso-
cIates from unjust exactions but TO protect
every interest demanding Justice in law
from the brigandage OF men whom the
people honor with the highest positions in
their power to bestow, How insignificant is
local option in the presence OF these mighty
interests that involve the very existence Of
popular government
GEORGE MULLER.
Darby, Pa. July co.