Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-08-24
WHY MINERS SUFFER.
The Saloon the Cause Of Much Pow
erty in Colorado.


To the Editor Of THE REFLECTOR
CREEDE CAMP, Colo, Aug. Isl
noticed in recent issue of the RE |
FLECToR an article devoted to prohibi-
tion workers and could not help but
recall my three months experience in
high license State and note the vast
difference between Kansas and Colo
rado.
Kansas may well be proud Of her
position as a prohibition State. Surely
1t is the road to wealth and prosperity.
That prohibition has worked grand
success in the SunllOwer State | have
been firmly convinced, since coming to
Colorado.
The anti-prohibitionlsts endeavor to
lead the people to believe there is as
much liquor sold in Kansas as though
there were open saloons. Such state.
ments deserve entire discredit.
The population of Creede is about
5000. A few minutes walk will con.
vince any man there are more empty
beer kegs piled up outside OF buildings
than could be stored away in all the
cellars of Abilene. Why? High
licensed saloons is the cause Of it all.
Again, the high license advocate
contends that the license derived from
these saloons Is of great benefit to a
town, to keep public property in. repair
etc. | would like to ask that man why
this town has no sidewalks and public
property Is conspicuous for its absence,
Notwithstanding the fact that there
are nine open saloons, each paying II
license Of 5000 a year. can tell him
why. The license will not near pay
the expense of attempting to suppress
its own evil by a police force; couse-
quently we walk in the street.
Men who have had steady employ
ment for year at $3.50 to $500 per
day and who should have saved two
dollars a day were penniess the minute
the mines shut down and compelled to
send to their relatives for money to pay
their debts and buy tickets out OF
town. They tell me they never ex.
pected the mines would close and they
made practice of spending twenty
five cents for some necessary article
while the remaining seventy five cents
went for beer.
While in Aspen, worked until
O'Clock at night. On my way home
would see hundreds Of men swarminl
like bees around these saloons. Why
this army of marauders, almost un
known at their homes, men who pre-
fer imaginary enjoyment, wrecked
constitutions, and the ill-will Of thos'
who would be their friends, rather thar
real happiness, health and prosperity
and the respect and confidence Of all
Colorado has paid good wages fol
labor, and there is but one reason fo
train loads of working men leaving tn,
State in destitute circumstances higl
licensed saloons.
That tragedy in Denver, one of tn,
, recent many, speaks good word 70
, prohibition, G. A. II. man shot in I
saloon by an Italian oyer the price of
} drink; later the assassin was lynched
r What was the cause of all thisY
= Another case in Aspen, but few
5 days ago, A young man shot ant
killed his drunken father, who wa
beating his wife and daughter. 1t wa
said that death was caused at the in
Q stance Of the shot fred by the son, VIII
b. was endeayoring to protect his mothe
. and sister. However true this ma
have been, the s8ioQn vas the cause o
a it.
When the citiz rs of Abilene wall
I the quiet streets Of that place and see
2 as they do, the good condition of publ
$ property and note the quiet that pre-
I vails, maintained without polio
: force, they should feel grateful TO
A what they enjoy and say to themselves
d THE absence of saloons is the cause o
y it," @. o. BLANDIN,