Evening journal., 1917-03-07
AN ArTACK ON HOME RULE.

dealing Win the local option question the people Of
Wilmington always have respected the right OF rural
New Castle and Kent and Sussex counties TO decide for
themselves whether those sections Of State should
have license or no license.
Nimingtonians have not attempted to violate The
principles Of home rule and the referendum which
SO clearly expressed or implied in the State Consu
ton.
This session Of the Legislature is featured by most
aagrant attempt by certain members who come from
the rural districts ignore the principle Of home rule
as il applies to city and TO force upon the people
something for which they have not asked and which
they do not want.
Those legislative members being cggcd in
such a by certain who, defeated Overwhem-
ingy at The polls last November seemingly have
spect for The principle of majority rule unless the
iority be their side; and st less respect for the
clear intent of the State Constitution ii that intent
be stretched or twisted TO suit their purposes
Ii their scheme to force rcsubmissOn Of the liquor
question upon the people Of city In defiance Of the
wishes OF our cliys delegations in the Senate and the
House be adhered to, the natural result would be
victory for the "wetv forces, when the vote is aken
because Of the resentment felt by people against
those ~dry" extremists to whom neither the principle
ton stand for anything when they conflict with the
legislative and electoral desires of such extremists.
Article XIII Of the State Constitution is entitled
~LocaI Option" It's provisions are as follows;
"Scciion 1.-The General Assembly may from time to
time provide by law for The submission TO the vote Of
unqualified electors Of the several districts Of this
state, or any of them, mentioned in Section OF this
article the question whether the manufacture and sale
Of Intoxicating liquors shall be licensed prohibited
within the limits theneOf; and in every district in
which there Is n majority against license no person.
firm corporation shall thereafter manufacture or sell
spntuous, 'Inous malt liquors, except for medical
sacramento purposes, within said district until at
subsequent submission Of such question a majority
Of votes shall be cast in said district for license
WHENEVER A MAJORITY OF ALL THE MEMBERS
ELECTED TO EACH HOUSE OF THE GENERAL AS.
SEMBLY BY THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS IN ANY
DISTRICT NAMED IN SECTION OF THIS ARTICLE
SHALL REQUEST THE SUBMISSION OF THE CUES.
Il0N OF LICENSE OR NO LICENSE TO A VOTE OF
THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS IN SAID DISTRICT.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL PROVIDE FOR
THE SUBMISSION OF SUCH QUESTION TO THE
QUALIFIED ELECTORS IN SUCH DISTRICT AT THE
NEXT GENERAL ELECTION THEREAFTER
Sussex county shall comprise one district Kent coun
" district the city Of Wilmington. as its corporate
limits may be hereafter extended one dis
srct and The remaining part Of New Castle county one
district
~Sectiou 3.Ihe General Assembly shall provide
necessary laws to carry and enforce the provisions
Of this article enact laws governing the manufacture
md sale of Intoxicating liquors under the limitations
Of this article, and provide such penalties ms may be
necessary 10 enforce the samc.-
No fair-minded person read that article Of the
State Constitution without being strongly impressed
That t the intent of the constitutional Convention
10 give TO each Of the four Local Option districts
"eo we benefit Of the home rule principle and also
'"' "enent OF the principle of majority rule with re-
r''' 70 resusmssOn, principle OF majority rule
not only To the voters at the polls hut also 10
"'''s""on In each house with regard to the wisdom
u "'' "'wsdom OF resubmittinv tI,o ouos,;on ,t NJ,
o convention apparently never coutorD,a,od .,h,,
''s Ana The Representatives from Tho o,hor
W VP"'" "'s'r'cls should override eibcr ,h III,
~ '"e people or The will OF a majort, os ,, s..,.
~" '"e Representatives from any one distr;.,
And yet that IS exactly what has BEEN dan. -,
Wilmington by Representatives from rural Nan, -,
hcnt aud Sussex counties in the House ana a., !,
what viii be done against Wilmington BY Senators
rural New Castle Kent and Sussex counties in the Stat,
SENATE unless they refuse TO follow the lead Of Hons,
members In trampIing under foot the apparent intent
Of the Constitutional Convention and overriding III
principle of home rule.
We convinced firmly that The "dry- men VIII
have induced Representatives 70 pursue such cOurs
against home rule for Wilmington will gain nothing
but lose much, by the shortcut they have aksn- Thu
people Of Wilmington, matter what their views ma.