The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-28
DRYS THUNDER
FOR SWEEPING
DRINK REFORM
Local Option Is Demanded
by Anti-SaIoon League
of Indiana.
DRASTIC REVISION ASKED
York ASSaiIS Devastating
Results of States
LIQUOR Traffic

Liquor lFdlllC,
The Indiana Anti-Saloon League
this afternoon lent its voice to the
increasing demand for liquor law re-
form, coming out for local option
as palliative to what it termed
the devastating results of the liquor
traffic in Indiana in the last y
months"
The Anti-Saloon Leagues legis-
lative plans were announced by L. E.
York, Indiana superintendent, and
embraced a f1ve-point program with
elaborate restrictions for licensing.
Mr.. Yorks statement made 1t
plain that it offers no compromise
with a business which the league
terms inherently criminal and which
seeks it's prey regardless of sex or
age"
The leagues attitude is one Of
making the best of things"
Suggestions for local option are
carried to such extremes as prohi-
bition in as small unit as the pre-
cinct.
Five suggestions LII
The leagues five suggestions for
legislative reform are:
I. Giving the people of a county,
township. ward, or precinct the
right to say by ballot whether alco-
holic beverages should be sold with
in the units.
2. A provision that will make the
liquor traffic liable for damage to
person or property caused by the
sale of alcoholic beverages.
3. Prohibit public officials from
being directly or indirectly inter-
ested financially in the manufacture,
sale or distribution of alcoholic bev-
erages.
Put Restriction on Hours
4. Restrict places and hours of
sale of all alcoholic beverages and
penalize any officer who undertakes
to suspend such laws after their
enactment.
5. We believe that so long as we
are compelled to have alcoholic
beverages. that a license should not
be issued to:
a. A person who is not resident
of the city, village, or county in
which the premises covered by the
license are located.
b. A person who is not citizen
of the United States.
c. A person who has been con-
victed of a felony under Indiana
laws.
d. A person who has been con-
victed of violation of any federal
or state law relating to the manu-
facture. possession or sale of alco-
holic liquors.
Repeal Is Denounced
Announcement of the legislative
program was accompanied by a
scathing denunciation of the effect
of repeal on Indiana.
The Indiana Anti-Saloon League
believes" Mr.. York asserted, that
in view of the devastating results of
the liquor traffic in Indiana in the
last % months, the citizens of the
state expect the Legislature to pro-
tect the people from further ruin
Gus and murderous operating Of the
most heartless agency of all times.
with police records showing an
increase of all the way from so TO
1873 per cent in arrests for intoxl-
cation and drunken driving, and
then not one-third of the arrests
made for these effenses, and the
alarming increase in automobile &C
cidents which have resulted in the
great number of injuries and deaths,
it would seem that our lawmaklng
body seriously would consider some
prohibition measures for protecting
the youth of our state, if for no
other reason.
Stand On Position
"The Indiana Anti-Saloon League
has not changed its position rela-
tive to prohibition and still believes
that drastic action by both the
state and Nation must be invoked
before any permanent relief can be
realized. This has proven true with
reference to crime conditions and is
true in the case of the liquor traf-
fic. which is one of the greatest
ine-producing agencies the world
ever has known.
Notwithstanding its belief in
both state and national prohibition,
it will wage a relentless warfare
for every unit of dry territory pos
sibls and for every limitation against
the liquor traffic. The League will
offer no compromises with a bust
ness which is inherently criminal
and which seeks its prey regardless
of age or sex.
with this record of debauchery
or the part of the liquor traffic, the
Indiana Anti-Saloon League be-
Heves its legislative program should
be enacted"