But what a howl would be raised if a bill was introduced in Albany to compel the farmers to help support the State government! What would be said of a law that put a tax of, say $60 on a grocer, $150 on a dry-goods man, and $500 more if he includes the other goods that are kept in a country store?
If the Raines law gave the money extorted from the saloonkeepers to the city, there might be some excuse for the tax.

We would get some benefit from it, but it gives a big part of the tax to local option localities where the people are always shoutin' that liquor dealin' is immoral.
Ought these good people be subjected to the immoral influence of money taken from the saloon tainted money?
Out of respect for the tender consciences of these pious people, the Raines law ought to exempt them from all contamination from the plunder that comes from the saloon traffic.

Say, mark that sarcastic.

Some people who ain't used to fine sarcasm might think I meant it.
The Raines people make a pretense that the high license fee promotes temperance.

It's just the other way around.