The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-17
THE aroo NUMERous SALOON.
An Influential German Newspaper Reads che
Riot Act tn the Saloon Politicians.

An Influential German Newspaper Reads the
Riot Act to the Saloon Politicians.
New York Repnblikaner, Aug 7.
With respect to the 'anti-saloonr movement in
the Republican party, Der Republicaner occu-
pies the ground that the political power Of the
'toonumerous" saloon should be curtailed, and
we are, therefore, in favor of the advance about
to be taken by the party.
In large cities, like New York, the saloon"
runs primaries" and fixes the delegates to
local. State aud national conventions. The
saloon" dominates saloon" aldermen, and gives
as saloon" dispensers of the tax payers money.
The 'heelers" of the saloon dominate and dictate.
1t is unfortunate that the people, who have
the greatest interest at stake In government are
not as active as the saloon keepers and their
patron. All the talk, however, that the German
voters will be alienated from the party, if IL
should take an advance step against the too
numerous" saloon is nothing but scare thrown
out by the wire workers. who run saloon" poll
tics and buldoze conventions. Naturally those
interested in numerous" saloons, denounce the
movement as in the interest of prohibition and
endangering personal liberty Such are the
phrases. with which they hope to be able to
frghten our easily excited Teutons Ii is mo-
torious, that the brewers establish saloons,
whenever and wherever they get chance to dis
pose of their wares by proxy. Thus we have in
this city thousands of Saloons in one congress.
sional district and dozens of saloons in one tene-
ment block.
To decrease this number is certainly in the in
terest OF good morals, good government and
good society. In the tenement districts, where
the brewers have their most numerous retail
agents, the resident population pays tribute to
king Gambrinus' or king Cocolus Indicus"
to extent hardly credible. One-fourth or
rather one third, of the wages earned goes up in
beer and foans. No lasting good comes OF 1t to
the consumer, but the manufacturers makes
money, builds palaces on Fifth avenue, and
drinks Secl There is great deal to be said in
favor of the suppression of the 'too numerous"
saloon. and il is not of the "prohibition" ver-
nacuar either. The arrogance of the
saloon In politics, its domineering and
bulldozing, its enormous powers of COM
sumng and feeding the vitals OF the
people, and all the other attributes and evils
connected with its too-numerous existence. have
given rise to the thought in the minds Of thou
sands of good Republicans that some remedy
must be applied. The Democratic party claims
to he the defender of personal liberty per se."
and would like to see this movement take a di-
rection against personal liberty" But IL the
Republicans are wise, they will steer clear OF
absolute prohibition, which is impracticabls, Inn
polite and utopian, but will favor such legisla-
ton as would regulate the s'too numerous" sa-
loon, clothe it in decent habiliments lessen it's
powers for causing poverty and distress. and
make it a source of revenue to the Stale It is
impossible to enact laws that Shall make people
religious, sober, economical, or think, but It is
possible and practicable to convince them that
tina organized opposition of interested manuSact-
urers to q universally conceded reform in this
rank field of the 'stoo numerous" saloon, 10 not
prompted by due and solemn regard for their
personal liberty, but rather born of the sordid
greed for the millions" in the maintenance and
extension of their lucrative traffic.
We do not live on "Psalms and cold water"
ourselves but we would regard little less of the
''too numerous" saloon as public blessing and
step in advance of the .'pecnniary" improvement
of the workingman and his family.
And Der Republikaner thinks that the party
which saved the Union and gave us emancipa-
ton, solid currency and protective tariff
should be able. and must solve this burning
question.