The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-02-07
HIGH LICENSE AT WORK.
A Very Practical Illustration of its
Effects.

80 -@SsSs -
Effects.
Sioux CITY, A.--Persons DESTROYS of
studying the comparative results of prohi-
bition and High License can make no more
instructive observations than by visiting
this city and the two Nebraska towns, Star
ton and Covington, which lie on the oppo-
site side of the Missouri RIVER.
After the murder of DR.. Haddock by the
liquor men in 1886, there began an era of
law enforcement against the saloons of
Sioux City. This was very effective, and
before long the open saloon was entirely
suppressed. In 1887 D. A. Magee was
elected Sheriff Of Woodbury. County. He
was thoroughly in favor of the enforcement
of the law, and under his vigorous admins
tra!ion Sioux City became very undesir-
able place for evil-doers. Liquor-sellers'
gamblers, prostitutes and other criminals
were made to feel the arm of the law, and
the town was cleansed as probably no town
Of equal size and wickedness had eyer been
cleansed before. The result was most graft
flying, and all decent citizens recognized the
blessings of the Prohibitory law.
Sioux City would now be entirely free
from the evil consequences of the open
liquor traffic if 1t were not for the protection
offered to the worst classes of society under
the High License law of Nebraska, on the
other side of the river.
HADDoCk's MURDERER CROSSES THE RIVER
When the miscreants engaged in lawless
occupations realized that Sioux City would
show them no quarter, they conceived the
plan of builing up town of, for and by
criminals across the Missouri, under the
milder auspice of the champion High Lii
cense State. Accordingly the little hamlet
of Covingtou, Neb., suddenly received large
accesslons. The murderers of Haddock
removed their brewery and barroom effects
to that quarter. To-day, within 100 feet of
the spot where Haddock fell in Sioux City,
is small wooden building. temporarily
constructed, about 10x12 feet in dimensions,
and in ii are a telephone and table and one
attendant. Ga the outside, over the door.
is sign which reads:
"Arensdorf Leader. Covington. Neb, Dealers
and Bottlers of Milwaukee Beer, etc."
The Areusdorf of this firm is the brewer
who, in the belief of every unbiased citizen
of Sioux City, fired the short which killed
Haddock. Prohibitory law in Sioux City
the toughest city in all Iowa-was strong
enough to drive him and his fellow.rascsls
out of business. He removed to the High
License town of Covington, and there he
conducts his traffic unmolested and even
ships liquors over to Sioux City under GOV
er Of Federal laws.
So all the murderers and other criminal
and dirty wretches who kept saloons in
Sioux City-or at least all of them who
thought it would be worth while to continue
in the business-emlgrated to Coving ton
Nearly every house in that town speedily
became barroom or brothel or criminals
roost. And every proprietor paid a High
License fee ana sang praises of the law Of
Nebraska.
AT first Covington was reached only by
ferry, and by ice during winter. But the
enterprising scoundres engaged in the rum
ard prostitution trades, desiring better com
munication with Sioux City, constructed a
pcntoon bridge. Then began very brisk
times. Within few months another High
License town was thrown up-the town Of
Stanton.
THE HIGH LICENSE TOWN OF STANTON.
Stanton is less than a year old. An &C
tual enumeration of buildings there shows
that there are now just 81, of which Is are
saloons, three are wholesale liquor houses.
nine are dwellings, one is barber-shop, one
restaurant, one fruit and grocery store,
one real estate Office, one Jail and one is
vacant. A town of only 81 buildings and
Is of those occupied by liquor establish
NETS, each paying an annual license fee of
$50! That is what exists under the boast
ed High License law of Nebraska, and it
exists solely for nullify ing the Prohibitory
law of Iowa.
Stanton and Covinglon have much Sic.
cess in their efforts to set at nauzht decency
and sobriety among the citizens of Sioux
City. 1t is only ten minutes walk to them
by the ponloon bridge. Their vile liquors
and vile women are in great demand.
Wholesale robbery fourishes there, and it
is the constan: effort of the High License
proprietors to sell as much stuff as possible.
Thousands of Sioux City's dol lars are alb.
sorbed, and in return we get only Keeling
drunkards and sin-smirched or crime-bent
men. The two High License towns harbor
professional thieves, burglars, pimps, etc.,
who make Stanton and Covington their rem
devious for depredations in Sioux CITY.
This part OF Iowa is much interested in
the pending Prohibition question in Ne
braska. Sioux City is a good place TO So
licit subscriptions for the campaign fund
against the High License law of the sister
State. The people know by bitter exper-
fence that High License is beautiful
measure for the scum of the earth and for
them only.-IHe Voice.