Blue-grass blade., 1891-11-21
NATIONAL SALOONS.

NhftStvNL SNeSS'sSs
A Criticism Of the Peoples Party's Plan
of Controlling the Trame.
Under the above heading ITO Day"
quotes from "The New Nation" and
comments as follows, on the govern
mental saloon:
The New Nation proposes to solve
the temperance question by having
the Government assume sole control
Of the liquor traffic The Govern
ment, we are assured, could dispense
pure liquors at mere cost Of produc-
ton and har ding, and thus not only
eliminate the dangers Of adulterated
drinks. but also lessen tie evils aris-
ing from indiscriminate selling on the
part Of unprincipled individuals,
prompted only by the desire for gain.
Under this plan agencies would be es-
tablished in all thirsty communities,
and placed In the charge of salaried
officers.
This Is as far into detail as the New
Nation ventured, but it Is hoped that
volunteered aid in perfecting the plan
will not be scornfully rejected. The
idea impresses one as most excellent.
for many reasons. In the first place,
the Government by assuming this dutv
would be enabled to favor thousands Of
its subjects with delightful and con-
genial positions. The head Of the
new department, whom, for want Of .
better name, we will call Keeper
General Of the Public Spirits, would
need to be q man Of equal rank with
the Postmaster General, though per-
haps Of not such q religious turn Of
mind. Or, if 1t seemed better econ
omy. instead Of creating new depart
ment, it might be managed along
with the Weather Bureau by the De-
partment of Agriculture. In either
event, there would be NJ end Of new
public Offices to fill,-ofhces that
would accommodate all grades Of talent.
II, after fair trial. such an addition
to the public spells began to cause
corruption. like the post-of1ce . por-
ton Of the offices could be brought
under civil-servioe rule. OF course.
tho offices of Keeper General and bis
deputy, as we'll a. the agencies In
large cities. could still be given to
men Of integrity who had previously
done their party, and incidentally
their country, valiant service. All
subordinatss could be subjected to
rigid examinations.
As simple list Of questions to be
asked applicants for Bar Tendsr- In
Chief. the following is suggested:
/. In your opinion. how many
drinks per diem should a naturalized
citizen Of the United States be al
lowed?
4 Who was Bacchus, and when did
he reign2
9. State concisely all scriptural au-
thority for governmental saloons.
4. Give the Governments receipt
for the following drinks; gin Azz,
Manhattan cocktail, claret punch.
5. Translate good whisky into ter
different languages.
6. Write, in legibls hand, the names
OF the United States, the governor oil
your own state, the mayor Of YOU
city, and the boss Of your ward
stating the favorite dri' K Of each.
Space forbids going further into de-
tail, but 1t will be readily seen how
easily the matter might be arranged,
and what q prodigious incentive il
would be to the youth Of the land to
prepare themselves for the service Of
the state.
Another suggestion presents itself,
viz, that stamps Of various denomi-
nations be prepared. each stamp to
be good at any government agency
for q certain amount Of liquid refresh
ments.
These could be made in the most ar.
tistic fashion, and would oftentimes
prove very convenient For instance
II in writing to q friend one found il
difficult to express real appreciation
Of his friendship, how easy to ask hin
to do you the honor Of drinking you
health, "for which find stamp on
closed" Or a glass Of soul inspiring
Tarragona might be sent, by stamp
to ones lady-love, to be drunk II
sweet remembrance Of the giver.
The New Nation says that this pub
lie management Of the liquor business
would not, # cou -se, be introduced
where States had adopted genera
Prohibitory laws: but there is a stronf
probability that no State could lon(
continue to see her sisters enjoying
such grand opportunities withou
speedily following their example.