The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-01-22
Let's Cali It Quits


with the proposed action Of the COM
mon council to provide licenses for the
"denatured saloons We had hoped
that when the United States govern
ment proclaimed the ratification of the
eighteenth amendment that this meant
that the Federal, State, City and Town
governments of the nation had finally
washed their hands Of future official
participation in the liquor business and
that the amendment meant just what it
is supposed to mean--the elimination
Of intoxicating beverages.
We have no desire to take from the
man or woman who sells lolly-pops and
portion Of his profit. We feel certain
that the official connection between tho
municipality and the saloon need not
60 on If the saloon Of the future is
is going to obey the laws Of the nation
there is no need Of city licensing it.
If that same institution intends to vio-
late the laws it is unfair that city
should be a part to such a violation.
The prohibition amendment forbids
the traffic in Intoxicating liquors. It
does NOT bring the slightest suggestion
that there may be relations between
cities and men who sell beverages
which may in part or wholly nullify the
amendment. If the saloon man has a
right under this amendment to sell
"near" beer or some other concoction
the city Of Kenosha has no moral right
to demand tribute from MIN than it
has to insist that a church fair take
out license to sell soda pop. The
time is here to sever all relations be-
tween the saloon and the city. It has
been severed by the ratification of the
amendment to the constitution and
there is no reason why a common coun.
ell of the city of Kenosha should seek
10 get behind this amendment. We
want no money taken unfairly from
law abiding men who have perfect
right to deal in beverages. 1t may be
that such an ordinance would result in
few men paying the license demand
3D. 1t may be that under the reading
Of Wisconsin laws the city attorney
Fan find the right Of the city to exact
this tribute but morally the city of
Kenosha has no right to put financial
handicap upon men who are going to
engage in q business which from the
very nature of it should not demand
regulation.
The saloon license was made neces-
Iary because the business Of the sa-
loon and its product under the old
regime needed regulation. If the kick
has been taken out of the beverage the
kick should be as well taken out of
the license. The agents of the Fed
eral government are expected to en-
force the laws of the government. 1t is
not necessary that the city ask from
men who may seek to violate them,
money for what these men are bound
to consider an official sanction on the
violation of the law.
The city is not so poor that it must
live by bribery from men who would
violate the law nor so near to the poor
house that it must exact tribute from
any one whom tribute is not due. There
is no financial question to be consider
ed. The amount would be so small that
it could in no way be urged as an ex-
cuse from the city to continue part
nership with liquor which has always
been hateful.
Ii the men who now operate or have
operated saloons want to continue in
business as dealers in beverages which
are within the law it is not the part
of the city to stop them or to seek to
take from them money for which the
city is going to render no service. 1t
matters not how many licenses have
been collected in Milwaukee or Madi-
son. Kenosha must deal fairly with
these men. 1t must deal fairly with
these men. 1t must deal fairly with
the people and must not make the city
q part and parcel Of organized intent
to disobey the law Of the land. 1t is
to be hoped that the members of the
council will promptly tell the saloon
men SEQ and sin no more" and go
with the understanding that the city
of Kenosha has no desire to exact
tribute from a business which has been
legislated out Of existence by federal
constitutional amendment.