The Howard union. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-31
For the Howard Union.


your neat little paper | would call the at
tentiop Of the public, or our "oity Fathers,
to the frequent habits Of drunkenness and
rioting that so often disgrace our otherwise
peaceable town. Will our city council
adopt some laws TO put a stop 10 such
scenes, that so often offend the senses, and
shock the moral sensibilities of our more
peaceable citizens, by disorderly few ?
Some attribute all the blame to the retail
liquor and beer dealers. Whilst they are
10 some extent responsible, they are not the
only ones. All Cor nearly SOY Of the gro.
Gerry stores in our city keep whiskey TO sell
by quantity of from small bottle 10 bar
rel. In each establishment is to be found
The ready glass tan,bler for the whiskey topper
1t is used as custom catcher. Some ofthem
say ''they could not sell goods if they did not
give their customers the privilege of going
to the barrel and taking DRAM" "Tha
others do it and they are compelled 10 do it
also, alihoughit is heavy tax on them at the
present prices Of whiskey." Any man
that will take the trouble 10 watch the
"MoDus oPERANDr" on any y hsiOn when
there are many from the cOd.itffGy,t( but j, is
not confined exclusively TO the country Gus
toners by any means,) you will see them
walk in, give the proprietor wink, (Which
they very we'll understand to mean, want
snifter.) After taking "stif horn"
they pass on 10 the next house to be treated
in like manner, until they go the rounds.
In short time their hearts become Sofiened
their purse strings become somewhat re-
Taxed, they meet with friend, that they
want TO treat, they take him into the nearest
dram-shop and get finished. When they
get few pulls at the merchants barrel,
they become suddenly very rich, the dime
that looked Ito them) few moments before
as large as the full moon, was suddenly
changed to an "insigniiicant rag" nothing
but "Uncle Sans trash," hardly fit 10 buy
"raw rot.gut." Now what is the result !?
You, Mr.. Editor, as well as every other
customer, is taxed 10 pay for the whiskey
given to the topper. You pay for it in every
pound of coffee and sugar you purchase.
The merchant must make it up some where.
He cannot afford to give ten or twenty
barrels of whiskey away that costs him
So 80 per gallon, every year. It goes into
the expense account, and has 10 be made up
on the general stock. This is plain in the
minds of all. The dram.shop keeper is
very often held responsible for the drunk.
eness, when in fact he only puts the finish
ing HEX on the job already well executed.
There is another class that should be looked
to, viz: Those secret dens of the devil,
that sell at their private houses, at out Of
he way places, without keeping grocery
in violation of all laws. Such should be
brought to justice by some city ordinance.
To get rid Of such, l would suggest to our
city council that they pass an ordinance:
lst. That no citizen, or househol Ter shall
keep on his premises, If a private house,
any spirituous or malt liquor in quantity
greater than one gallon, without special
permit, (except for mechanical purpo.
ses, under heavy fine and confiscation
Of the liquor.
End. That no merchant shah hereafter
give away any liquor to be drank on his
premises, under fine or confscation.
Bird. That any person keeping liquor or
beer for sale shall do SO only at his shop or
store, on some public street, with sign
over the door giving his name and business.
4th. That the sale of intoxicating liquor
shall not be allowed at any place within the
city limits except in that part Of the city
known as the business part Of the town, the
council TO determine the fact.
1t might be proper also for all liquor
dealers 10 have sign over his door with
the words "DRUNKARDs MADE HERE"
painted in large letters.
These might be considered stringent
laws, but we should all surrender part
of our rights for the good of the whole.