Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-30
JERSEY LOCAL OPTION
TO END 5000 SALOONS
Governor Edge Fills His
Pledge by Signing En-
else Bills
3O-YEAR FIGHT FOR DRYS
Both Democrats and Republicans
Finally Won Over tc Home
Rule" View

TRENTON, Jan. 30.
More than 5000 saloons in New Jer-
sey will he driven out Of business by the
passage of the Mackay local option bill,
which. with its companion measure that
allowing voters In wet" communities
to initiate ordinances to regulate the
liquor business, Governor Edge signed
yesterday afternoon.
After a fight of nearly thirty years.
during which temperance advocates In
all parts Of the State strenuously sup
ported the extension OF the home rule
principle 10 the liquor question: after
years of disCouragement and political
subterfuRe. years IN which both kepub-
Leans and Democrats fought shy OF an
open declaration TO allow the people -
express their wishes al the polls for az
against the saloon. New Jersey has now
an iron-bound law which will allow the
majority I'm every hamlet, town and city
in the state to rule. a law. which. In
view of the rapid trend toward booze
less nation" accentuated since the be-
ginning Of tho war, will be one great
stride toward the absolute elimination
OF intoXcauts as beverages IN this State.
Everyone admits that the next step
after local option is prohibition.
one Of the great factors in the local
y
secretary Of President Wilson. Tumulty,
as one Of the leaders Of the Democratic
party in New Jersey. realized that the
excise question could no longer be fooled
with" as has been done for year past
by both parties. and he issued what
amounted virtually to command to the
Democrats OF New Jersey that the pee
pie should have the right to vote them
selves wet" or dry"
EDGE PLEDGED TO OPTION
Seeing the handwriting on the wall as
evidenced by the drift of national senti-
ment against the liquor evil, the Re
publican party, at its last state con-
vention here. pledged itself to local op-
tion. and Governor Edge. hailing from
the most liberal section Of the State, At
lantic city. bowed TO the inevitable. Dc
Claring that the voice of the people,
long oppressed by the liquor interests Of
the state. must be heard. he pledged
himself to sign local option bill IL the
Legislature passed ii.
How well he kept his word was shown
yesterday afternoon when, in the pres
ence Of members of the Legislature,
state officials. temperance workers and
officers of the New Jersey Anti-Saloon
League. he affixed his signature to the
two bills with the same pen with which
the Illinois local option law vas signed
some years ago
The applause of this gathering which
greeted the executives signature to the
local option bills resounded through the
state. from cape May to Sussex and
from the Delaware TO the Atlantic. as a
vigorous commendation, not only of
eliminating the saloons, not only Of max
ing lives OF New Jersey men. women
and children happier but Of establish
ing firmly that principle of the Ameii-
can reople-majorlty rule.
The Mackay act, which is the stra light
local option proposition. provides that
upon the signing OF 20 per cent of the
legal voters of municipality mot in
cluding counties) of a petition, an cleo
ton may be held at IL general election
to abolish or retain the licensed saloon
that majority vote in the election shall
. determine whether the community shall
be wet or dry. and that after thirty
days following such election those places
, which obtained their licenses after the
law was signed shall cease to exist.
Those saloons which We're licensed
prior to the enactment of the lay may
! continue to operate until the terms OF
| license expires through the enforcement
| of the act is entitled to a refund of the
! pro rata portion of his license fee, ba sed
! upon the term for which It was origin.
/ ally granted. A petition OF 80 per cen,
! of the legal voters may bring on a spe.
cial election