Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-20
LOCAL OPTION VS.. PURCHASE

| To the Editor Of Evenin0 Ledger:
Sir-I notice in your paper Of this date
an editorial which l quote in full fol-
lows:
The British Government acting through
the Liquor Traffic Board has decided to
purchase all the breweries and public
houses in and about the city of Carlisle.
Fully n third of the public houses will be
closed and others will be equipped
model refreshment houses. where intoXi-
cants will not be sold. Yet In the great
State of Pennsylvania the liquor interests
have the audacity to oppose a local op.
tion law and actually contribute money to
debauch the electorate and control the
Legislature.
This editorial sets forth in plain words
two totally different methods of dealing
with the legalized liquor trafic-one which
has been adopted by the British Govern.
ment under the terms Of which. as stated
in your editorial, that Government has de-
cided to purchase all the brewerles and pub.
lie houses in and about the city of Carlisle.
BY this just method England Is able to
effectively wipe out the liquor traffic, and
does 1t without meeting with any opposition
from the liquor people themselves. The
other proposition set forth in your editorial
is the local option proposal advocated In
Pennsylvania and few other States, and
which has been approved by the EVENING
LEDGER and which, should II become n
stroy the lawfully acquired property of the
legitimate liquor dealer This method is
naturally opposed by all legitimate liquor
dealers Very few thinking citizens expect
liquor dealers TO do anything else than OPP
pose a proposed law which would destroy
their property without anyS reimbursement
or compensation.
am loath to believe that the EVENING
LEDGER would Intentionally attempt to de-
ceive its readers, and yet the editorial in
question uses the just plan of the British
Government--in which every liquor dealer
is given a square deal-as argument in
favor of the local option proposal in Penn
sylvania, which, II II becomes effective,
would rob legitimate liquor dealers OF their
lawfully acquired property
! would be pleased to have you explain
whether your editorial was mistakenly writ
ten because of lack OF understanding OF the
true facts or whether 1t is really an at
tempt to befuddle your readers into believ-
ing that the local option proposal (whlch
would destroy property Is as worthy OF
the support of those whose property would
be destroyed as is the plan which gives full
reimbursement. / believe you will agree
with me that an equitable and honorable
proposition is always best supported by hon
est arguments based on honest statements
Of fact II your paper sincerely believes In
the kind of local option advocated in this
State-which would carry with II conhsca-
ton of legitimate investments-do you not
believe you should clearly set forth that
fact and not attempt to make such propo-
sition appear 10 be as equitable and Just
as one which safeguards and provides for
the rights of others? II surely cannot help
YOUR cause to resort 10 specious reasoning
and fallacious editorial arguments.
d. CLARENCE GIBBoNEY.
Philadelphia July Is.
THE MELODRAMATIC RAID