The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-05
An Iucldent of the saloon Business.

AAh " NuN SuASOA DuoAANoHs
To the Editors Of tho Int.llIgencer:
Since my last article on the Strike OF
the Saloon Keepers, have been good
deal shaken by the following item. 1t
appeared in the local columns oil the
Register OF last Friday. The name OF the
person concerned iUf evident reasons is
omitted,
"AIYsTERIoUs DIsAPPEAHAHCE--On
Tuesday last - was arrested Tor being
on the streets in q state Of intoxicstion.
Since that time nothing has been seen or
heard oil him, and his family are fearful
that he has committed suicide, rs he has
been often heard 10 say that If he got on
another spree he would make away with
himself The search for him since Tues
day night has been persistent and con.
slant and without effect. His vile Is int
terrible state because Of bis prolonged alb.
senCe, and any information concerning
him will be most thankfully received by
his almost distracted family. Word re-
garding him may be sent to City Sergeant
Davis. When he left the city he had be.
tween forty and fifty dollars on his per.
son."
The first impression which this item is
calculated 10 make, Is that It must be an
invention Of an enemy 10 the cause of the
saloon. keepers, Tor the purpose Of bring
ing It into disgrace. But the character
Of the newspaper in which 1t appeared
will not admit oil such a supposition. Ev.
cry body knows It's devotion to the inter.
ests OF the saloons; every body also knows
that 1t Is incapable oil treachery. Tho
appearance Of similar item In your own
columns also con6rms tho truth Of the
incident.
But ! Confess that when was COMPEL
ed TO acknowledge It's truth, l was u little
shaken BY 1t, Those who really desire 10
belriend the cause Of whisky and the old
license system, ought TO know better than
10 give publicity 10 such occurrences.
People who do not think and feel deeply
on the subject are liable to be prejudiced
by them. They say, here is a man who
but Tor this evil passion for drink would
be worthy and useful member Of socie.
". he goes into saloon, gets drunk, is
disgraced by being arrested and fined,
wanders from home, and perhaps, in his
shame, puts o violent end 10 his lie. Here
is q young vile with her little family
overwhelmed with misery. lit was not
for the help OF friends she must suffer for
the lack Of the necessities oil life Here is
"a business establishment closed, and those
who are employed In 1t are LEFT without
work. Other firms which were supplied
with the products Of this establishment
arc disappointed. One Of the wheels Of
commerce, small though 1t may be, is
stopped, and in some degrees il affects the
whole community There arc plenty Of
people who are rash enough 10 make
such an incident ground Of opposition
10 the saloon business. They would even
say that II this man has put an end 10
himself the men who sold him the whisky,
10 all practical iHtents murdered him,
They hold that the saloon keepers might
as well have picked his pockets, Of the
money which he spent for drink and il he
is dead,-then have with pistol bloWed
out his brains. They argue that II is fool.
ish, and wrong for the State In anyway
to countcnAnce q system which licenses
the selling Of these poisonous, maddening,
and death dealing mixtures Even from u
pecuniAry point oiview, the pittance paid
into the public treasury for the right 10
pursue this business is not worthy OF
mention as IN offset 10 the losses which
ensue 10 society. And they insist that if
the evil must for time continue, It shall
be under severe restrictions, and that they
whO,go into the business either directly or
indirectly, shall be held responsible for
the damages.
As yet, I have mot been able TO see any
way clear TO satisfactory answer TO this
process Of reasoning.
FRIRND OF HUMANITY,