Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-11-10
lIhQlANE FIXED
tOR DhygEN SAILORS
Every Man Who vC>.
Year Ago Is To b. "e' a
THE LAW DISREGaRDE1
Annapolis hlust Stand For Best Interest
Of The Navy And See Law
Is Enforced.
Communicated
TO the Editor of the
Evening Capital.

10. the Editor of the
Evening Capital
Sir
Permit me to express my hearty ap-
proval of your strong editorial in
last nights Capital, under the heading
Who is to blame?' You are quite
correct in saying that there are
drunken sailors upon our streets in
increasing numbers, and this in spite
Of law against selling liquor to men
in uniform. You ask, "Who is to
blame?" The saloons of Annapolis
are TO blame. and every man who vot-
ed wet" a year ago is to blame.
| When Annapolis gave a majority in
favor Of the liquor traffic last Noyem-
Der, it endorsed business which has
throughout its entire history stained
the fair name of every community
with which it was identified, debauch-
ed manhood broke up homes ,increas-
ed poverty, disease. crime, fouled
citizenship. made politics filthy, in
creased taxation, and damned the
souls of men. 1t never has been law
abiding or patriotic, Your editorial
and the facts back of it, put the ques-
ton squarely up to the citizens of this
city, whether or not they care more
FOR the vile liquor traffic (fast being
driven out of every part of this coun-
try than they do for the men who
have given all they have to the serv-
ice of the country in this hour OF the
nations peril. The issue can't be
ignored now. For Annapolis to har-
Dor the saloons a minute longer than
necessary in the light of your editorial
and the facts which can be discovered
on the streets OF Annapolis almost
any night, is for her to sacrifice the
manhood and efficiency of the navy
for the benefit Of a traffic which has
no excuse for its existence whatever.
The presence of the open saloon Gre
ates the passion for drink, it tempts
men to buy it unlawfully for the boys
in uniform, and the liquor dealer
well--he isn't in the business for pro-
noting temperance, but to sell liquor
That is what the City of Annapolis
takes license money from him for
He can't pay the annual fee unless he
sells the stuff. Where is he to get his
license money and make living il
il is not back of the bar dispensing
drinks? 1t isn't fair to demand tax
from a man because he is in a GER
tain business and then hamper him in
securing the funds to meet the tax.
If his business is worthy do away with
laws which interfere with his trade,
and if his business is evil and destruc-
tive then let a community use plain
everyday sense, and smash the bust
ness believe our Mayor is trying
his best to have the law concerning
liquor and sailors enforced, but no
mayor in the United States can make
the liquor traffic aw abiding and
decent
What is the remedy? 1t is simple
enough Go before the Legislature
which meets in January and ask it
to do for Annapolis what the special
session did for Prince Georges
County. Under present war condi-
tions Annapolis ought TO be made as
dry as Sahara. The next Legislature
will do it for this city, if an aroused
citizenship puts it up squarely to it.
Believing that the best interests Of
Annapolis and the part of the navy
identified with this city, are woefully
harmed by the liquor traffic / hereby
pledge myself to hearty cooperation
with any city official, citizen, organi-
zation. or group of citizens who may
organize a fight against the source of
the evil Of which you complain in the
editorial It will cost something in
time and effort, but | believe there are
in this city many citizens who are
willing to pay the price.
RI. w. BURGAN.