The Globe-republican., 1890-05-21

Written expressly for the GLOBE REPUBLICAN
HIGH LICENSE is Il delusion and a fail
ure.
IT I
THE RESUBMISSION question has stirred
ND "A few who would like to see a return to
the licensing of the saloon again. Some.
because they love the presence of the
saloon more than its absence: others.
because they think the license paid will
be benefit to the city and county.
The MAN WHO wants the saloon be-
cause he loves it is deluded by his per-
verted taste. by his bad habits. and by bad
associations. and hence ought not. for
the good of humanity. to be gratified in
his desires. He should he kindly dealt
with and, if possible. taught a better
way.
But THE MAN WHO wants high license
because he thinks it benefits IA people is
to be pitied morally, and instructed in
tellectually and i'm political economy. A
saloon. or a joint, or any other drinking
place in which intoxicating liquors are
sold. or given away as a beverage is. al
ways has been. and in the light of expe-
rience and observation always will be.
curse, "A continual curse, aud nothing but
a curse. to the people in which such
place exists.
! As TO THE FINANCIAL benefit of high
license it is a gross delusiOn. First, who
furnishes the money that pays the
license? Men who would otherwise
spend their money for helpful. useful
things. for themselves and families. Sec
Ond. who is benefited by the high
license: Not the farmer. for the license
is paid into the city treasury. Note this,
farmers! You are being told that it will
1t will do no such thing. You are being
told that it helps to pay county eXpen.
ses. The presence of the open saloon
helps to increase county expenses. and
you pay your full share of the taxes for
this purpose. The license goes into the
city treasury. and is yariOusly used for
city improvements. city expenses. but
the farmers get not one dollar of benefit.
FARMERS. BE NOT deceived. But who
is benefited by the high license? The
man who pays it! What: Yes, the man
who pays il. How is that? Mainly in
the seeming responsibility which the
license confers upon the business. 1t
does not make it respectable. never can;
but in the eyes of many it seems to do
so. A resubmisSionist said here on the
street the other day: 1--WE want to license
the saloon, then it will be just as respec-
table rs a grocery store, or dry goods
store, or boot and shoe store Think of
that merchants! Put on par with
business that does nothing but iucapaci-
tate men to buy and use the helpful. use
full articles you have for sale Never
consent to it.
I I I
THE MAN WHO pays the license is ben
Gifted. Did you ever hear of whiskey |
man. or any other. on a business prOpO-
sitiOn, throwing away IA thousand dol |
lars for the fun of it? The saloOnist gets |
his money back, and more. because of |
the increased responsibility CD lent to his /
destructive business. He is not then I'M /
der the ban of the law. as he nowis And
because the law gives them certain rights |
CD their business is, therefore, respectable
CD and so appears to some. But you can
never make it respectable! You may
gid it, and gloss it, and glaze it; but in
side it will be foul. and full of stencil
from its own decay: and its pois-
OnOus. blighting. whitening, beautiful in
fluence will 60 forth only to destroy.
Never let it be legalized again on Kansas
soil.
But SOME ONE still insists that the city
is benefited by license. The increased
crime, in arrests for drunkenness: in
criminal proceedings; in increased pau
perism; in the loss in wealth from idle
ness; all of These losses. to say nothing
of the loss in physical manhood. in moral
manhood and in mental power. so far
outweigh the pittance of blood money.
sOul-mOney paid in license, that it de-
serves never to be mentioned, but to be
dispised.
I + I
BUSINESS MEN, farmers. thinking men
look at your children growing up, with
out seeing any of the visible signs of
saloons. Now. if they hear anything
about Joint it is that it is sneaking
away into garnet. or basement or back
alley. hiding itself from public gaze. just
as all reptiles seek to do, Keen if so for