Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-09-05
SOME LOGICAL FACTS.
,potliBiTloN AND THE AcR,.
" CULTURAL CLASSES.

tr Manufactured Goods, and Therefor.
levers Pr:ces-The Saloon Is the ;;raa,-
~ curse OF Our Times.
Too many times persons say of statis.
tics. 81 do not know that these state.
mcnts are correct, and shall not con.
sidnr them" Particularly is this true If
,hc i.urcs represent ideas contrary ia
,hc Individuals notion. In this paper
no figures are to be given, but each per.
SON i, asked to reason regarding the
nropositions upon the basis of his own
Observations. The farmer is a producer.
All. income is entirely dependent on the
demands other people make for his
PRODUCTS III there be a large call for
Wheat. on corn, or cattle, the prices OF
these products advance in proportion.
and the farmers purse is better filled.
/. Whatever decreases demand lowers
nrices. lis known by every observing
man snat the families of many drinking
men are poorer fed and clothed than
they would be if the head of the family
did not drink. Wherever this is the case
drink decreases the demand for farmers
food-products, and wool and cotton for
clothing. and lowers prices.
3 Demand is more than local. IT is
eastern consumption that fixes the prices
of western products. Then every drink
by man whose family is poorly pro-
vided. for as a result of drink. restricts
dcmand and lowers prices. Every saloon
in the United States is in antagonism
with every farmer of every section, les
scning consumption and lowering prices
of agricultural products. Each saloon
In New York, Chicago, San Francisco.
Minneapolis, or anywhere else, is an eX-
pense to every farmer in Dakota. Wis
consn. Kansas, and every other state
And the open bar in ones home town is
in every way financial burden and a
curse. A little reflection leads to some
small idea of the magnitude of this bur-
den upon producers. How many thous-
and families-some near home and others
distant-because of intoxicants. make
half or less than half the natural de-
mand for agricultural products!
3. 1t is universally known that the
quantity of grain used in the manufac-
turc of liquor is small-nsignificant
compared with the lessened consumption.
The price of farmers produce would ad-
vance, perceptibly and satisfactorily, in
day if every drink-sutfering person
were well fed and clothed.
4. Liquor drinking decreases demand
for manufactured goods. Factories are
shut down or running half force because
of restricted demand for their produce
tions. Industrious and sober workmen
are living on scant supplies because out
of employment all or part of the time.
Why are these men suffering, if neither
drinkers nor oilers? Largely because so
many men do drink to excess that there
is less than normal demand on the cotton
faTf f1.irc 1c oh oh,
furniture makers, house builders, stove
manufacturers and others. The families
of thousands of temperate laboring men
coarsely fed and scantily clad, and in
every way making smaller demands on
the agriculturists than they would if
drunllards' families were properly pro-
vided for. The more prosperous other
legitimate pursuits, the greater the call
npon the farmer and the larger his COM
pcnsation, The liquor traffic antagonizes
and restricts every proper business. but
the bulk of the burden rests on the pro-
Queer.
$. A large business makes low prices
possible. If drink restricted none in
their living, manufacturers wholesalers
and retaiers-each doing a larger bust
ness-could live on smaller margins, and
farmers would receive the benefit.
6. Because of liquor-drinking there are
many expensive accidents, defalcations
and "bad debts" The profits of manu-
facturers, transportation companies, job
bers and local traders must be large
enough to cover all these. How the eX-
pense doubles up to the final purchaser
the farmer!
T. 1t is a matter of general observa-
ton that most criminals and paupers
and many insane are the children of the
liquor traffic. The expense of prisons,
asylums and officers to keep the peace is
enormous. Who pays the bills?
s. License money does not Go it. The
chief advocates of license, even high
license, are the very ones who pay it
the liquor dealers. They know it does
not come out of their pockets. They
willingly pay this so as to get the govern
ment to protect their business. The
license is an insurance policy guarantee
ing the saloon a legalized. popularized
existence. The saloon-keeper gets his
money all back and more. Farmers of
all men should not favor license. In the
west farmers pay three-fourths OF the
taxes and only small part of the license
money goes into the county treasures.
The farmers pay most OF the criminal
and pauper bills and the cities and viii
lagos get most of the license money.
License is defrauder of every one ex-
cept liquor dealers, but is a double de-
ceiver and curse to the farmers.
8. The attitude of the liquor question
now is high license or prohibition. Pro-
hibition does not say man shall not
drink; it provides that no man may put
the bottle to his neighbor's lips. pro.
hlbitory law does not sacrifice personal
liberty, but provides for it. High license
destroys personal liberty, because it pro-
vldes that none may sell liquor except
those who can advance $500 or more
license fee-monopoly. Prohibition laws
simply prevent white-aproned suckers
from sapping the industrial life-biood
from our country and moral l1fe-blood
from our homes.
10. Some business men think they
must pat every one on the back, saloon
Keepers included, for the sake OF their
business Farmers have not even fa!se
p!etenscs of reason why they should not
Vote for prohibition.
4. The tillers of the soil are invited to
Gems iGnr tbocn connections and deter