A Page Of Very Good Advice
To the Editor : Thoagh tbe amendment is defeated by a small majority, it cannot be denied that its advocates have made a grand campaign. They have penetrated into every county and district of the great state with their orators and publications educating the people as to the terrible evita of intemperance. Adding to these, nearly onehalf of the voters of the state, the numerou8 body of tempéranos men, who for reasons eatisfactory to themselves, voted against the amendment, we have conclusive evidencethat the overwhelming sentiment of the state is opposed to the liquor traffic and the saloon. And now, after the smoke of the battle has cleared away, it is highly proper for all these people calmly and carelully to consider what is to be done. It would be quite puerile to say that because we cannot have our own particular way we will do nothing to extermínate or lessen the eril of intemperance. Government is not like mathematical science where all the truth lies along one line, and error on every other. It must, to be successful, adapt itself to the particular state and condition of society over which it legislates. If it gives laws much more perfect than the people have been educated to, they will fail of being executed. Now what can the real frieuds of temperance, united together in the good cause, do for itaadvancement? I will indícate a tew things, hoping that others better acquainted with the operation of the present law will suggest others. lst The nonsense constantly dinned into the ears of jurora by the lawyer for the defendant in a liquor prosecution, that witness must actually taste, or smell the intoxicating liquor in order to prove it sold, should be abolished. The delivery of a liquid in a saloon ought to be made conclusive evidence of a sale of intoxicating drink. 2nd. Every saloon should be requirec by law to close promptly by 9 o'clock r. m. This is the time when stores and otber places of business are closed the year around, (except 'in nimmer when many are closed earlier.) Why should the saloonist be permitted to keep open later, and deal out that whioh often makea " night hideoua" to decent and law abiding citizens ? 3d. Ader a certain numberof breakes of the liquor law the license of the saloonist should be revoked, and no money which he has paid be refunded. 4th. Local option as soon as t can be tairly obtained. The present legislature might not feel disposed to give it, go soon afier the deteat of the amendment, but there is no doubt that they would greatly strengthen and improve the present law, if they find the people are in earnest for that purpsse. This is the line of policy pursued by Massachusetts of late years. After haring prohibiüon for 20 years resuking in free rum, because the people were not up to it, they substitated geverely restricted lioensea with local option. This is working far better than anything they hare heretofore tried. They now adopt local option, not only in most of the smaller towns, but in many of f rom 10 to 20,000 inhabitants. Will not Michigan profit by their example ?
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Ann Arbor Register