The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-07-28
PROHIBITION FOR WISCONSIN,.
By WALLACE MYGATT.
SECOND PAPER.

IL OAC bldNClS 1NOl way
Sweden and Denmark he will notice
in city, situated in one of those states,
a street having a name that. translated
into English, literally reads: The
street to hell If the traveller is moral
ly sound, the pronunciation of the
name, after the same has been trans
lated, will not shock his sensibilities;
but if he should be a seller of intoxi-
eating drink, or follow any criminal
pursuit whatever, most likely physical
disturbance would attest the mental
shock which the spoken words occa-
stoned. In the utterance and publica-
ton of the foregoing circumstances it
is not the purpose or intention that the
creduiity of the readers of the TELE-
GRAPH shall be overtaxed, and it may
be truthfully averred that the street
and it's name is a veritable and well es-
tablished fact. But leaving reality,
one might lie down to dreams, and in
a mental twilight, such as often gives
nis-direction to the imagination, be-
hold the municipal officers of Milwau-
kee setting off outlying grounds as a
Potter's field for the social and moral
interment of the men in blouses who
sell intoxicating drinks. Instinct,
even, in the absense Of wit, one may
believe, would lead the city authorities
to the adoption of the name above re-
produced for the street leading to what
would become a scene of activity and
wild disorder. That indicative name
would prove convenient to those seek
ing investment in strong drink; and
those who visited the place OH a voyage
of discovery, although they would not
behold lake Of fire, with its rock
bound shore, the doors of saloons
would turn on their hinges to admit
them to the heated regions below.
The proposition, advocated by a few,
to uproot the tares from society and
transplant them to isolated places, it
appears does not meet with general APP
prevail 1t must be conceded, however,
that the evil removed from the daily
walks of life, the occasion would be
less frequent that ''pOOr cloak COW
cred good drinker"; also the laborer
and the man of business, who stand
upon the verge of a dangerous appe-
tite, could not readily step from their
own doors into slippery places. Ii
cense laws are enacted with the idea
that they will reduce the total of the
liquor traffic and enable municipalities
to "Wash one hand with the other" in
what relates to income and expendi-
ture. 1t does not, however, occur in
point of fact that an impost upon deal
ers in strong drink reduces the traffic
The municipality receives the thirty
pieces of silver" and the saloon keep
er leans toward increased sales as the
natural consequence Of the payment.
A single proposition that contained
opposites would hardly receive sufi-
cient credence to be admissible applied
to any of the pursuits of men not faint
ed with the liquor traffic; but, never
theless, it is to some extent true that
saloon keepers look upon the license
which they hold as certificates of re-
spectability, and also as evidence that
they are engaged in a contraband bust
ness. If the business is contraband
why not throw aside restraint and
deal with utter disregard of the moral
and material welfare of the public
which points toward them the finger of
scorn.
The dealer in strong drink, having
completed the payment of tributes.
fancies an implied obligation on the
part of the municipality to repress the
wild disorder that necessarily ensues
in the prosecution CT that business. 1t
therefore occurs that the municipality,
geappigng where it has not ah reach
vest. Leaving out of the question the
costly incidentals of the liquor traffic, if
one counts the money that for license
reaches the public Golfers, moistened
with the tears of destitute children,
and thereafter the money paid for
| police surveillance. the credit balance
on the ledger would be found exceed
lngly small. The saloon keepers fluids
originate disorder-the police officer
is called, and beholding only effect and
not cause, arrests the wrong man. The
error of the officer is an incidental of
the traffic, and the cost reaches the
pockets of the public. Deeper down
the diligent investigator would find an
instructive lesson in the costly Incl
dental expenses that ensues wherever
the traffic receives the sanction of law.
There is at Kenosha an island that
serves as a revetment for the protec-
ton of the water course that consti-
| tutes the harbOr. On that island is
situated tall tower that sends forth
the rays of light which guide the
mariner along the trackless deep. A
small percentage of its light the tower
sheds upon the adjoining building,
serving as shelter for those disabled
by strong drink and who are for that
reason clothed and fed by the munich
pality. Upon other parts of that island
the unpretending abodes of fishermen
may be seen. A saloon keeper OF the
main land, at one period, set forward,
with supple hand, canteen after can
teen OF beer to meet the disordered APP
petite Of one of the last named resi-
dents on the island. To the inebriated
fisherman the earth appeared to have
an irregular motion, and placing his
reliance upon his feet, homeward
bound, he fell into the water course
that separates the island from the
main land, and was not thereafter seen.
What would one expect to witness ex-
cept all the saloon keepers marching
with gifts in their hands for the wife
and seven small children left destitute
by that sad occurrence? But in fact
nothing Of that kind occurred.
After the lapse of six years the
municipal account, as it has relation to
that event, stands as follows: food,
clothing and medical attendance for
family two thousand and seventy-seven
dollars: Contra: License money receiv-
ed, six years at 500 year; total, one
hundred and twenty dollars.
If one outlines a single incident of
the liquor traffic, the public may learn
hence that the traffic is cruel and con-
tinuous drain that reaches the pockets
of the industrious and sober members
of society.
If one reasons from analogy he will
hardly anticipate reduced sales of
strong drink as the result of augmen-
tai license fees IF q merchant navc