The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-03-06
BOYCOTT THE SALOONS,

We read in the papers not long ago
that the knights of Labor had resolved
TO boycott all firms in Chicago employ
ing prisonllabor to manufacture their
goods in competition with honest labor.
Now we do not wish it understood that.
we are the champions of the cause Of
persons or firms employing prison labor
for we arc not--but il Occurruu t0 uer
that it would be step in the right di-
rection if the Knights of Labor at their
next general assembly would resolve to
boycott the saloons" If this wis
done and carried out as effectually an6
as sincerely Us the boycott resolved on,
and included in its scope the whole
United States Of America, the firms
employing the prison labor would
quietly pass out of existence as factor
in labor competition. 1t has been
proven again and again that liquor is
the greatest cause Of crime. 1t may
not be SO directly, but the foundation
may be traced to the use or abuse OF
liquor. We therefore advise all friends
OF good government; all friends of fair
play; all friends Of heart broken
mothers, sisters and wives; all friends
Of law and good order--to boycott the
saloons" Boycott the brewery and
distillery, boycott those who make il,
boycott those who sell it, boycott all
who are in any way identified in it's
traffic, boycott the preacher who dare
not condemn it, boycott the politician
who in any way encourages it.
If boycott Of this kind could be
effectually carried into force, we be-
lieve the laboring man all over the
country would have less cause for other
kinds Of boycott. They would be bet
ter, wiser and richer, and would In
crease their power to enforce their
rights a thousandfold.
The poor laborer often grumbles Of
hard times-very often with good
reason-but when that same man can
afford to step into saloon, treat the
crowd to the value Of couple Of dol
lars, while his children run barefooted
and his wife has teased him for weeks
for - cents to buy calico dress with,
we think his grumbling is in bad taste.
1t would be better il he resolved first to
boycott The dramshop, lay the 50 aside
for rainy day, and be prepared to as
sert his right whenever it was needed.
Workingmen in every town, village
and city in the land should form them
selves into an association for the spe-
cific purpose Of ''boyc0tting the So
looms" For so doing they would 10
honored and respected by their fellow
men, and even the saloonkeepers them-I
selves would give them credit for hay
ing good sense.
u general boycott should be inauaurs
ated all along the line. The pre46hesn,;
the school teachers, parents, guardians
and public leaders all over the land
should with unanimous voice declare
this boycott. If the saloons and liquor
trafiicers were thus effectnal,y boyc0t>
ted by the outraged suffering humanity
there would be no need Of prohibition
laws; the traffic would stop Of itself, a
the creek gets dry when it stops rains
ing. Boycott the liquor dealer. whole
sale and retail, by ceasing to patr0Dise
them, and crime will be so materially
lessened that convict labor will b
heard Of no more, as competitor to hons
Est toll.
/ We do not wish to be underatooA ~
mean that crime would cease. W. -
know that there are black sheep n M
folds. Criminals have been au0oG ~1'
as far back as history reeehss, and WiI(
be az long ~ the world exte(a NJ thee
drink ID the cause Of the lagUo Rajpgl(y
Of crimes no one can deny IN ~ ~