The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-04-15

campaign here some years ago, and
who really accomplished some good.
When about to leave he said;
Friends, always remember that, no
matter where he may be, Johnny
Cunningham is keeping his pledge"
Yet he did drink within few
months.
Mrs. Letter, in her lecture in this
place on last Thursday night devoted
all her time to an argument in favor
of teaching, in the public schools, the
character of alcoholic drinks, and the
dangers of intemperance. This same
thing was advocated editorially in the
Standard more than year ago, but
only as part of the system of in
temperance education. The evils of
the great curse should be taught
everywhere, in every possible manner,
but at the same time with that degree
of judg dgment that will not create dis
gust or contempt. The Temperance
orator may get up before an audience
and talk eloquently for hours, and
paint the blackest picture which the
human mind is capable Of conceiving,
or the human tongue is capable Of ut
tering. But the half cannot be told,
even then. Men who lay claims to
respectability, and who feally desire
the welfare of their fellow-men, will
come out of the low doggeries, listen
attentively to the lecture, and go back
to the dens again The hold of the
internal stuff found there is stronger
than the appeal to heart or brain.
When such men cannot be reached by
human appeal, or force of law, the
only thing remaining seems to be
that of using them as horrible exam
Piles. The lowest brute Of manor
a creature who was once man-may
vote, and this is great misfortune to
many of them. AS long as votes are
procured by whisky and beer, there
seems little hope Of any reformation
through the enactment or enforce
merit of laws. At each recurring cleo
ton is presented the picture witnessed
at the recent election here. For sew
eral days before the election, every
fellow who would get drunk was
made drunk, and there was kept up
reeling drunken procession about the
streets until after the election. Even
men claiming to be men of intelli-
gence and respectability, would slip
into the doggeries and ''set up the
drinks, with the hope Of securing
votes by that means. 1t is black, a
horrible picture. Is it strange that
men become dlsgusted, and that there
is more and more scratching of tickets
every year?
There is a regular school of crime
going on in almost every town and
city. The primary lessons are given
in the pool-rooms. These are the
most demoralizing and dangerous dog
geries to be found in any town. The
system of gambling and swindling
carried on here is more contemplate
and dangerous than would be per-
mitted in "a faro-bank, or a poker
room. Boys of all ages are permitted
to gamble for checks or chips"
These "chips" represent certain values
say five cents each. These are drawn
out through the game, at half-dime
each, and at the presentation at the
bar or counter, the keeper of the den
will usually demand two of them for
five cents worth of goods. Thus he
gets, not only hundred per cent.
profit ON his goods, but two prices be-
sides. Parents, that is the way your
boys are being taught. From the
pool-room to the doggery, is just the
same distance as from the well to the
spring. These practices are carried
on with the hope and belief that the
parents, and the public at large, will
not know Of their true character.
The place to begin the work of ed
ucation Of the young, is in painting
to them the dangers of the pool rooms.
There constitute a veritable working
of what Dickens described as the
"Kinchen Lay" 1t would be more
merciful if the boys were robbed by
force, Of their change, than to get it
by teaching them to gamble and even
to run in debt for their games. There
is rich field for thought, and inves-
tigation, in this direction. We may
feel called upon in the near future to
describe some Of the methods prac-
ticed in these places. In the mean
time, let the evils Of intemperance
and the dangers of alcohol be firmly
upon the minds Of the
young. The horrible examples are
plentiful-men who have been COM
PEELED to throw up excellent business
positions because of the drink habit;
others who have fallen lower than
brutes. Temperance work cannot be
forwarded by kicking at Temperance
men. Let all unite in educating the
boys to understand the horrors of the
whole Internal business.
xx
There has been great excitement in
East st. Louis for several days. On
last Thursday conflict was precipi-
tated between, a mob and several