Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1933-04-27
Headed for Local Option?

There are plenty Of things wrong with Monta-
mas neW beer law. II Tie fiIst place il IS stepped IN
politics, pushed through The legislature by Il group
q political leaders, WHO assigned tie passing OUT OF
beer licenses 70 a purely political board and placed in
It's hands Tie enforcement Of its provisions.
IN the second pace, lie provisions Of the
law are 50 ambiguous that it has been necessary OIL
several occasions 10 have The attorney general inter
pret he intention q those WHO drew it.
According = The attorney general. the Law ac-
tually conflicts With tie federal act IN determining
Lie rights Of same EFF the brrr ifrensrrsz- tnder stale
law 4 Wholesaler may SCI d single bottle Of beer TO i
customer, MAie tie federal statute defines a whole
saler IS ene Who sells i minimum Of tive gallons 10
! purchaser.
L Us evidently tAe intention Of The authors
= The law=te lImit. Tie number u licensed operators
u 1 town. 6ai npN We find there is to be practically
No limitation placed on the number Of wholesale. no
tel, Or restaurant licenses.
THIS newspaper his always felt that if this beY-
efage WIS not intoxicating, little restriction should be
placed on tile selling IF L. II It is Intoxicating. then
u immediately rolAes under The 18th amendment anu
Should not IL sold ny anyone.
Minnesota ami some Of tile other states have
laws Which seem more u keeping with lie sale Of
notwithstanding beverages License fees are eonpar-
ALVEY low, ana they arc granted to drug stores. con-
dictionaries. grocery stores. and many other dispen-
%sA4NS1 1I0I lH6 EEllIlAG
e lieense i MT iessened. aud the distribution of the
beverage i nat burdened With limitations which al
themselves label the drink is one that cannot be ac-
sepied hy al eElsses of socety without serious ques-
ion.
state license fees 10 sell beer IN Montana arr
nigh IN most cities ordinances have been set up car
rFlns heavy license fees and placing restrictions IL
faripns kinds on the beer vendors. they will be ez-
peetei g Keep within the law. and that i Is it
should be.
But, there Il another side to lie question. The
MN WHO pays liz he4Yy tax to sell Iegalized beer i
entitled q protection from bootleggers. While We are
aAalfefahIt opposed e. lie return of the saloon ii
nantaAA 80 ~ 44-#- f##t-ef the IHitaa States win
US demonstrating influence. W. ae just III much on.
posed g faAiHs tHF man who would sell beer legally
almost beyond his capacity to pay, aud then counten-
aHee tle sale " 4 homemade eoncoction BY those
who have rad nothing Tor the privilege and do % ii
open violation Of the law.
i i reported "a good authority that last sat
urday night, with two public ounces going on in the
city, hootleggFTs Wtre selling home-brew in open Vi
citation II the law an the streets Of PIentywood-one
st Them from 1 truck loaded with Il generous supply.
II occurrences such as this Is permitted to con
fInte authorizes cam only blame themselves IL The
tlan who i Legally licensed to sell beer loses some
u his respect for the law under which he is expected
~ operate.
The neN Montana beer law carries with It a
provision q 4 referendum vote. Ife we are not badly
unless tie law ! strictly enforced-enforc
81 against the hoptlegger lis we'll as the licensed deal
ef=the time When people Of this as well as other
counties of Montana will be exercising that privilege
Will not b far distant.
Il there ever was 4 time when the bootlegger
vas entitled % ~ mercy it is now. The duty. Of ev-
tfS enforcing officer is plain, and there can be no
question but they would have the unqualified support |
M nparr~ AM. ~ Jfw as4su r. r, -,