The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-05-08
GOOD.

Last week we acknowledged ourerrorin
critisizlng the Stnrgis Advertisers atti-
tude on the dance house question. This
week we are pleased to note that it has
changed Its base on the enforcement
question. In the last issue appears an
editorial under the appropriate head,
''The Rum Octopus, which is so good
that we publish it in full. 1t has the
true ring and outlines the stand that
every true paper OF the state should
take. 1t is not Il question t.f politics,
nor OF prohibition or anti-prohibition,
but shall the will OF the majority. rule,
shall the laws be upheld. Be IL law good
or bad, the open violation OF it is de-
moralizing to the community and GER
tainly Injuries the state IN the Eyes OF
would-be settlers or foreign capital. In
it's present stand, which IN the end will
cost it many times "'two" subscribers,
the Advertiser deserves the encourage
ment and financial support OF every
good citizen OF Stulgis and vicinity:
THE RUM OCTOPUS.
The time has arrived for the respectable
element, businessmen and principal property
owners Of sturgis to decide whether a wicked
oligarchy shall rule a prosperous and law.abid-
ing people or that people shall dictate the terms
been brought about in the attempt to have the
city authorities close a dance hall that has been
running in Sturgis, and the fight against the
saloons was precipitated when the whiskey
men-with two exceptions, viz: Ammon and
Goeden- rushed to the defense Of this lniqui-
tious resort that was even to low for some
- 49, 10, @l,t, l~y,n ~, Hr ,p,
vince anyone who may be skeptical as to the
statement that the whiskey ring backed the
dance hall it is only necessary to refer to the
action OF this element at the polls on the Dist
instant.
The proceedings upon that occasion We're such
as to bring strong public censure upon the
whiSkey combine, mourning the bitter emnity OF
prominent citizens who were disposed to toler-
ate the evil so long as the men in the business
the h CON community. The saloon men are them n
selves to blame for the war now on, and should
the grand jury conclude to investigate their
affairs they must remember that they forced
the issue.
If a careful study of the situation in Sturgis-
and the Hills, too-dOes not convince any fair
minded man that the rum power seeks to con-
troll every political party and almost every
legitimate enterprise that has any merit, it is
because he is a partisan beyond redemption.
1t endeavors to make the press and the church
subservient to its interests, and if unsuccessful
these powerful disseminators. which sow the
seeds Of morality and Righteousness, Are boy
cotted. If the voice OF the press or church is
raised against this evil, that paper or church Is
made the target of the whiskey element.
These statements are warranted by the fact
that a few men in sympathy with the whiskey
people have withdrawn their support from the
clergymen OF this city who have had the cour.
age and manhood to speak out against the
dance house, and the Advertiser has lost two
subscribers-viz: Wyttenbach and Rosebrough
because it took n decisive stand in favor OF
law, morality and Justice. Think OF it. These
men attempting TO SubsidlZe the preSs-or
starve it into subsection by withdrawing their
patronage, which amounts in the aggregate to
81 per annum! Hardly enough to pay the run.
ming expenses of the paper one day. The Adver
tiser is a legitimate public enterprise and has
the endorsement OF all law-ablding citizens, ant
has no fear OF a grand jury. 1t has never VIC
lated the laws OF its country, but the SAM
moral right is delegated to it to deiiantly breal
any or all laws governing the people of thi
commonwealth that is given to the men selin.
whiskey in South Dakota today. Think oftha
element endeavoring to bull-doZe, intimidate o
force the church or press into silence, by with
drawing patronage because they publicly de
mandcd the mayor to close a house OF proSti
tuition.
This resort closed its doors yesterday becaus
the owners of the building saw that public sent
ment against the place WAS so strong that pos
siply al injunction might be placed upon til
premises. keeping the house closed for Il veal
and the Advertiser believes that the saloon
which sought to maintain this lcentiouS div
will close their doors in Il short time for othe
reasons.