The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-12-25
:sTRENGTH OF THE SALOON.
Upheld by the Class Known as "Respecta-
Bile Citizens"

cSTRENGTH OF THE SALOON.
Upheld by the Class known as "Respecta-
BILE Citizens"
We often hear remarks about the
vote of the liquor element, or the ''sa-
loon vote as it is familiarly called.
In many cases it seems to be no incon-
siderable fraction of the entire voting
population. OF what class or classes of
citizens does this saloon vote consist?
1t is plain that it is larger than the
number of persons engaged, both di-
rectly and indirectly, in the sale OF
liquor. The voting strength of these,
in any specified locality, is but frac-
tional per cent. of the total number of
voters. In an entire state, these men
are not numerous enough to affect the
result in any case, if voting by them
selves. without aid from others.
From whom does this aid come, then,
which gives to the saloon vote its nu-
merical strength? Who compose the
sometimes numerous class of citizens
who show their sympathy with the
liquor traffic 10y giving it their support
at the polls? This is a question which
has not had the attention given that it
deserves at the hands of temperance
men. If at the polls the line were
drawn with only those who are en-.
gagged in the traffic on the one hand,
and all other citizens on the other, it
is plain that rum would meet with a
crushing defeat every time.
Probably the thought of those VIII osc
attention is drawn to this point for She
first time is that the allies of the sa
loon are composed of the low and VII
ciouS class of men who are hangerE.on
around the lower sort of gin mills ind
beer saloons. But their numbers are
not sufficient. even when combiAcd
with the votes named above, to give
the voting strength that the saloon dis.
plays far too often, when ii is menaccd
by legislation.
The real strength Of the saloon, Eot
only at the polls but in the community,
is in more or less numerous class OF
people who belong to the category OF
''rcspcctable citizens" They do not
want the saloons abolished, nor inter-
fercd with in any way. They are the
bacl; bone of the saloon vote, and they
are Il large factor in public opinion
hostile to the execution of all regula-
tive or restrictive measures, such az
Sunday closing laws, or other statutes
Of that nature.
1t is obvious that a saloon cannot
long exist unless it has patronage. AS
soon as it ceases to be profitable. it is
closed. To be profitable, it must have
enough customers to make it So They
| must be men who have money. which
they are willing to spend over the bar
1t is these respectable drinkers who
keep up the saloons: it is they who
give the saloon their moral support: it
is they who are largely rcsponsibl for
the evasion or open defiance of re.
strictive or prohibitory laws; and it is
| they who must be largely brought over
to the support Of temperance legisla-
ton in any community before it will
or can be made thoroughly effective
! for the purpose it was designed to eff
| feet
There is no use of prohibitory legis'
| latioS. So long as this element is at all
numerous in a community. With its
TACT encouragement, the law will be
dciied or evaded. according to the
strength of this element of opposition.
The work which must be the initial
! effort of friends of prohibition must be
an educational one, with this very class
for its objective point. We know this
is difficult, SLOW and unpleasant. 1t is
so much easier for your professional
agitator to stand in pulpit or on e
i platform before an audience which
sympathizes with him, and abuse vo-
ters because they do not abjure their
political aft iations and join the polit,
| zeal prohibitionists. 1t is sweet to re.
ceive the incense of applause from
those who think in the same way; it is
SO much easier and pleasanter than to
go to a man and. in Christian spirit,
cndeavor to lead him to see the error
of his ways. But this work, even if
unpleasant, is the first in line if we
are to be successful in the effort tc
pulverize the rum power-Toled(
| Rlo6a