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Newspaper
Falls City Tribune
Location
Falls City, Nebraska, United States of America
Date
Jun 19, 1908
Page
2
A long list of Nebraska business leaders from Holst, Sterling, Utica, Kearney, Crete, Lincoln and others respond on liquor licensing vs dry policy. They cite tax effects, patronage shifts, enforcement of the Slocumb law, German- and immigrant-area concerns, and the belief that well regulated licenses better sustain commerce and school funding.
ARAPAHOE R J Finch a merchant notes prohibition hurts revenue yet does not stop sale. He says the country tributary to Arapahoe has a large foreign population and the town has always had saloons until last year. The spring election hinges on license versus no license with local business fearing tax hikes and loss of business if dry persists.
The Oklahoma constitutional convention previously banned intoxicants but faced bootlegging and law evasion. Pressure from business interests led to a legislature creating state liquor dispensaries run for profit. Judge Strang ruled the dispensary law regulates sale, not prohibition, marking a final bid to retract statewide prohibition.
The piece argues against nationally driven prohibition, noting only four states remain dry and listing local option license schemes by state. It cites the Review of Reviews and New York World Almanac data on local option fees and rules across the United States.
A survey shows state and local options establish licenses with annual fees ranging from 12 to 1 200 dollars. Local option mechanisms appear dominant, with many jurisdictions allowing authorities to set or adjust fees by locality or population, indicating strong public preference for local control of licensing.
Nebraska business leaders oppose county option as a step toward statewide prohibition. The piece cites Canadian Scott Act history, criticizes Anti-Saloon League intervention, and touts the Slocumb high license law as the local free tool for regulating liquor. It notes merchants forming an association to enforce the license law and protect property interests.
Hundreds of Omaha business houses join a new Merchants and Manufacturers association aimed at protecting taxpayers material interests from movements seen as harmful. The group quietly watches Nebraska anti saloon league agents and their paid campaign activity.
The piece argues that county option undermines home rule by letting voters outside a town dictate local liquor policy. It contrasts local option preserving town autonomy with county option enabling outsiders to force dry or wet outcomes, unjustly taxing towns while removing their self-government.
The article argues that county option and local control are essential to self governance. It claims prohibition failed in Oklahoma because bootleggers flooded the pews and allowed the negro to drink freely, asserting the dispensary law primarily seeks to prevent Negroes from obtaining whisky.
The article notes the anti saloon league promotes prohibition but says dry extensions in the north follow high license laws. It reports sentiment favors statutory prohibition in the south but only under high license and local option schemes. It observes southern agitation targets keeping liquor away from colored men.
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