The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-02-16
LIlII TICfNCT fTfTTf DTTTT,
THE RUM FIEND.
The Great Evil of Our Land the Worst
Enemy of the Working lasses.

| The Great EVIL of Our Land the Worst
| Enemy of the Working lasses.
1t seems strange that with every city
filled with the numerous organizations
of working-men in various occupa-
tions; with the great number of papers
| published in their interest; with the
advancement of their class as the
assigned reason for the existence of
these societies and their organs, that
there is not one of these societies,
either local, State or National, so far
as our knowledge extends, which has
ever adopted even a formal resolution
evidencing hostility to the rum traffic
and the open saloon-the worst foes of
the working populations; there is not
one OF their many newspaper organs
which has come out boldly and openly
against the one thing which does more
than all others to drive into pow
erty and debasement the very men in
whose interest they are all professedly
published. Why do not the working
men OF the country take decided at
titude OF hostility to that inveterate
foe OF every man who depends upon the
labor Of his hands for his daily bread,
the rum power?
The rum power is more aggressive
than capital, more exacting than
monopoly. 1t reaches out to every
locality devoted to human toll, and
sets its recruiting posts for the Grand
Army of Drunkards, the saloons, upon
every corner. Look about you and
consider; did you ever see a new
enterprise started,a large manufacture
ing plant erected in some hitherto
sparsely-settled suburb of any city,
and note, even before the structure
was completed, before u wheel was
ready to turn, that some emissary OF
the ever-vigilant rum power estab-
lished a saloon in close proximity
thereto? When next you take your
walks abroad, on business or pleasure,
in any locality devoted to large mills,
or shops, or factories, keep your eyes
open. and you will realize the fact that
there is no street an operative would
be likely to traverse, in going to or
returning from the scene of his daily
toll, on which saloons are not planted,
SO that he must pass d rum-hole at
least twice daily.
There is not in any State that has
not already banishcd the saloon a man
ufacturing establishment employing
any large number of workmen that
has not q saloon in close proximity
thereto. Let new establishment open
its doors half mile from the nearest
saloon. and the brewing interest OF
that city sees to it that new hell
hole is set up near by. The working
men of our land are kept under strict
surveillance by the rum power. 1t
takes good care that they have before
them, day and night, the continual OPP
portunity and temptation to drink. 1t
recognizes that in every establishment
there may be found men who are al
ready slaves to the drink habit, and
that they are the best possible mis-
sionaries in the work of bringing their
fellows under the same terrible dom
ination.
If all the working-men of this Ma
ton were absolutely free OF the vice
of drink, the appetite for rum, a very
large proportion of the saloons would
be compelled to close their doors for
lack of patronage. 1t is a painful
fact, which any intelligent man who will
take the pains to investigate can de-
termine to be true, that the saloon
keepers live largely off the hard
earned wages of laboring men. When
the weekly payday arrives in any
manufacturing or mining center, every
saloon reaps its harvest. In many
establishments the payday has been
changed from Saturday to Monday, or
some other week day, so that the men
will not have the opportunity which
the Sunday holiday gives to indulge in
dissipation. The Sunday debauch
brought the men to work on Monday
in an unfit condition, while the money
that should have been spent on their
wives and families were squandered
in rum, that the saloon-keeper's fami-
ly might live in comfort, dress in fine
raiment. and sit at q table loaded
with rich fare; while the working
mans wife dresses in cheap calico,
his children in shreds and patches,
and their fare is of the poorest.
Heaven alone knows the misery suf-
fered in a home whose head is a
drunkard.
What is the reason that the leaders
in the labor organizations do not op-
pose this domination of their men,
bers by the rum power? Why does
not the honest, sober element in these
societies direct its energies to the ex-
tirpation of this ruinous traffic, which
draws so great portion of its sup
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