Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-11-02
Read This Reply.

points found in letter written by Mr..
Frank M. Stevens, the President OF the
Board of County Commissioners, whose
sentiments, presumably, he bespoke when
his letter appeared in the Frederick Neaos
Tuesday, October 3lst.
We are sorry that this article appeared
and regret deeply it carried the signature
of some of our county officers whose in
fluence is certainly in direct opposition to
the sentiments of the people who entrust-
ed them with this office
A reference is made to the lasting IN
Jury" which will result in Frederick
county if it goes dry" and Carroll and
Washington counties remain wet. This
statement is but a gush Of hot air with
no facts to support it. Such statement
| carries with it the theory that part OF
any thing should not be done if the whole
cannot be completed Herewith which
would have defeated every moral reform
the world has ever experienced, If you
cannot build all the roads of the county
at once don't attempt the construction Of
any one.
universal prohibition cannot be effect
ed at one stroke-a part dry will be dew
lish. Do we always work on such a the
Dry? trow not The implication is that
if we get Washington and Carroll coun-
ties in the dry column then Frederick
county might not be so bad dry Don't
kill the mad dogi your yard unless every
body kills theirs. if they have them.
Nineteen states have tried prohibition
and find it better dry than wet else they
certainly would have returned to their
wallows as the hog to its mire. W. Vir-
ginia has tried both and tells us that dur
ing her last year in the wet experience
she had over $4,000 arrests and during
her first dry year she had little more
than 5000 arrests, reducing the number
of arrests under dry laws so per cent.
Now who would prefer in the whole $4,000
arrests with their expenses over against
5000 arrests? Is an extravagant amount
of crime and evil better than half as
much if the whole supply of evil cannot
be entirely abolished? If Thurmont gets
along better without liquor, why force her
to plunge into the filth again: because we
have four places in the filth but strug-
Cling to extrcate themselves?
There is reference also to the effect
that local option has DONE Carroll
county positive harm" Please explain
in what way? The best people of the
county are so well pleased with their dry
experience that they are going to vote
dry next Tuesday with an astonishing
majority. Not only so, but many of the
business men who voted wet before will
vote dry at their next chance. Carroll
county harmed! How? Only Tuesday,
October 3lst, a parade comprising 28l
automobiles and 200 persons travelled
80 miles demonstrating their enthusiasm
in the dry cause and protesting against
the malignant power of the liquor traffic.
This letter referred to insinuates that
both Washington and Carroll county will
vote wet. AS matter of interest let it
be safely predicted here that the former
will go into the dry column while Car
rolls majority will soar still higher than
she now occupies. The assertion that
Carroll county will go wet is but con-
fession of ignorance as to its throbbing
interest and warns us against putting any
credence in the unwarranted claim that
prohibition will hurt US as it has Carroll
county.
Now we listen to the doleful prophesy
that we will suffer Lasting injury" and
positive HARM like Carroll county if
we dare tread her path, but ask that
some tangible facts buttressing the state
ment be given. We have little time for
glazing generalities,
Let comparison between wet place
with all its hideous crimes, pitiable in
sanity, undeserved sorrow, and dry ter
ritory with hardly half the amount of
such evils be made and we will look at
the results.
Our attention is called to the probable
ity of an increase in tax rate if prohibit
ton be effected. As matter of fact our
tax rate was increased last year more
than cents and maybe it will be increas-
ed again regardless of the way we vote
on the question of prohibition Let US
see minute the State, Frederick city,
Emmitsburg, and probably the other wet
places in the county get some revenue
from the liquor interest but Frederick
county gets NOT one red cent of the
liquors revenue. But why should the
county be required to help keep up the
prisons, insane asylums, poor houses and
other agents and institutions used to care
for the products of liquor and the county
not receive cent from the liquor revenue
in return? Can things get much worse
in this county than this?
This county, however, is not desiring
to pave its streets with innocent blood
and pure life-it would rather sever all
its connections with such bestial, heart
less and degrading institution as is the
liquor traffic; and it feels like bowling its
head in shame when some of its official
citizens are upholding this nefarious and
iniquitous business.
Why is it any way that we have to pay
about 81 cents on the 500 when other
places get along equally as well on about
one-fourth of this amount? 1t seems that
our Offices are costing US tremendous
amount of money anV WaV We are won