Smith County...Wet or Dry?

The vote in Winona got us thinking about this state's attitude toward liquor laws.

So, we went to a couple of local history experts, attorney Randal Gilbert and

Dr. Bob Peters of TJC, to ask them about Texas' sometimes bizarre liquor laws.

For example, private clubs.

"You could not have open saloons in Texas,” says Gilbert. “So if you were going to get a drink
it had to be a private club."

Peters finds that a rather silly artifice.

"I don't think the qualifications for getting into our private clubs are
like getting into Boodles in London or something," he laughed.

So what really are the odds of Smith County eventually going wet?

"Your organization against it,” Peters said, “is going to come from the religious organizations
who have deeply felt principles, committed principles that it is wrong.
And some of those religious organizations have a lot of money."

Gilbert agreed, "You've got those who oppose the sale of liquor saying it brings vice and corruption.
And then you've got people saying we're losing revenue to people who are going to buy it anyway."

Peters added, "You're also going to have opposition from the liquor sellers in the neighboring
communities, and Winona just joined the list."

"In the 1860's,” Gilbert observed, “there was a saloon literally on every corner of the square in
Tyler. So the morays and morals ebb and flow with the public."

Peters concluded, "I think if you did...go back to my idea of a snap election.
We're going to vote tomorrow, y'all didn't know it but we are...beer
and light wines would pass. Liquor, I think, would be a tougher sell."