Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-11-06
W.. C.. r u.
This Column is Edited ander The Direction
Of The W. c. 4. Union NJ Perry'buro.]
The semi snnual convention OF the
Wood County w. C. T. u. will he held ut
Weston, Nov. 18Th.
Mis-. ID X. IIollenbeck, Sec'y.
pROnIBITION IN KANSAS.

The Marshall County Neps is Demo-
cratic paper published at Marysville, the
county seat of Marshall County, Kan. Ils
editor was originally very earnest oppo-
nent OF prohibitory legislation. His tesii-
mony, as given IN the following extract,
has therefore special in,ercst aud sign6-
canoe. We invite particular attention to
what he says OF the change oi base in local
politics from the saloon TO the school
house and the public hall. lie writes:
"Prohibition does not prohibit neither
would moral suasion' nor true Temperance,
nor any other doctrine or policy having or,
claiming to have that end IN view. Nothing
ever did, nothing ever will entirely prohibit.
Just as long as an appetite can be found that
will not he satisfied without n stimulating bcy.
| cragc, just so long some will either secretly or
openly keep place where the stuff will be sold.
Prohibition does not entirely prohibit, tbut In
| things somewhat respectable 1t does not take
very close observer to notice that II has vastly
improved MSrysyiie ,iaa,y and Marshall County NOR,
years ago our little city supported from fifteen
| 10 twenty-five saloons their bars were crowded
| Of these places were blockadcd with crowds OF
drunken men, sometimes quarrclling, some.
times singing. always sSisterons s, % always rowdy.
not entirely gone, have to n great extent disap.
pcarcd. Quite u number of them have been
transformed into respectable stores, and their
| proprictors are making more money in other
mercantile pursuits than they did at their for.
mcr occupations, A few are still kept open as
| sionally deal out nip of somthing strong to an
| old friend in whom they trust; but this Is done
| very caut9usiy' and Is IN bold contrast with
| drink during the day and carry home Mt night
was the measure of his rcspectabiliy and stand.
! ing In the community. In politics, too, the
| n
days the man who desired the votes OF our citi.
zens called them together and bonsted the fact
! that he could aud would supply the drinks dur
| ing the compaign. He commenced by inviting
| the crowd TO take something, and the crowd
never failed to accept the invitation. The plans
for the campaign were always talked over In the
salOon and the deposit necessary TO execute the
plan was always laid down before work could
begin. Now the candidate never visits the
loon, except 1t be in the nighttime. and then
not without kowning just who is with him and
whether @ he can rely MS m not Sds giving Wing him
ed with saloons. Now 1t is transferred TO halls
and school houses, where campaigns are won or
again is noticeable The man who formerly
walked boldly up to the counter and laid down
| his five cents for glass of beer, regardless OF
| who might witness the transaction, either goes
about II timidly or docs not go about 1t ut all.
The old style OF hailing his chum and calling
him across the street to take something has
I down the street to make sure that he is not OBJ.
| served, and often the thirsty individual may be
waiting for clear coast free from observation
| before he enters. This performance, of course,
don't take all the curse off, neither docs it nj.
ways prohibit the man from going in and get
| ting what he went for, but 1t curtails OCCASION
ally, aud more than that, 1t indicates the dawn
of selfrespect that will finally restrain that man
and prevent him from making hog of himself
| We notice, aside from this. other things that in
dicate improvement: children are better dress
, ed and cleaner, some of them wear shoes that
| never had shoes before, some OF them have plen.
ty of food who went hungry before, and mothers
are looking happy who never smiled before.
Gardens are clean and fences are neat where all
was broken down and weeds before Take II all
In al our liberty to raise the devil and do what
| we please is not quite as broad as it was before.
| Yet we cannot see why little prohibition has
not been quite us good for Marysville as the
open saloons we had before. One thing is Ger.
tain prohibition is in the constitution and in
the statute. and it has to some extent controlled
the liquor traffic: has to some extent restrained
Its sale and use; has removed little carlessness;
has removed little squalid poverty, and pro.
duced a little comfort, and 1t may be well
enough just to let it alone"