Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-08-21
TO AVERT AN EVIL
is THE DESIRE EXPRESSED by
THE MEMBERS OF THE Elk
EcuTIvE COMMITTEE.


F. b. Stanley, chairman Of the anti
local option executive committee, was
seen yesterday by a representative oil
the Gazette regarding the contest now
on in this city In the course Of his
conversation he said:
Il am willing to give to the readers
Of the Gazette my views OF the ioVui
option question. The committee OF
which / am chairman, was appointed
by aud represents the business men Oh
Fort Worth, to assist In preventing the
evils and losses which would necessa-
rily result to them and the properly
owners II local option should be forced
upon us. 1t is not liquor dealers
committee, although of course they
suffer equally If not to greater eN-
tent than we. There Is not a liquor
dealer on the committee, nor on the
business meme address to the voters,
We are threatened with Il public ca
lamity which means and VIII cause
great loss and hardship 10 ALL 1t Is
business question, to be regarded from
n business stand point We Know thAt
our property and business interest VIII
suffer enormously should local option
prevail. Whether our losses VIII be
compensated by an increased moral
sentiment Is visionary and doubtful
loss for the doubtful chance of an eN-
pertinent. We are confronted by
condition not theory. The liquor
traffic is only one of the many material
interests Of our city which are threat
cned, We are Interested in these other
interests. We oppose the policy of
injuring ourselves and our neighbors
in order to destroy the liquor traffic.
We admit that rats and mice are found
In and attracted to our houses ana
granuries by our provisions and stores
yet we are not willing to set fire to
our houses and barns in order 10 get
rid Of the Vcrmin. The rats and mice
might be damaged and incommoded by
the fire. but such n policy does not
commend itself to the prudent business
man. We prefer a less costly expert
ment. Times are too hard now with
out adding the burden OF local option,
Values are too low, taxes too high al
| ready. We cannot afford to lower val
ues and Increase taxes ut this time by
cutting Off revPnues and stirring up
| strife.
county town to be rebuilded In day
| If the experiment of local option should
| prove disastrous. 1t Is all very well
| for country towns and precincts to
! make the experiment. 1t does not cost
| so much to try It for a while. They
| have no great commercial interests to
have millions and millions OF dollars
| invested in various enterprises, and
| are pulling every string to bring more
| millions and more people and more en-
terprises here. BY the llberallty and
| business foresight Of our business men
and property holders, we have laid the
foundations for great city. Great
! railway systems have centered here,
manufactures mills and markets are
here furnishing employment for thou
sands of men and support for their
| families, and home market for the
products Of the farm and ranch. Fine
schools, colleges and churches have
been established in costly buildings,
and are being kept up and maintained
at high standard of excellence. Char
table institutions, newspapers. boards
| of trade, public libraries ana places OF
amusement are here. Costly and mag
nincent buildings of brick and stone
have been built and are occupied by
offices and stores, and many acres Of
residence property have been Improved
and occupied, All these are supported
by and dependent upon the business
and property interests OF Fort Worth
They were not obtained without cost
and sacrifice.
Many n brave-hearted. broadminded
business man has gone down in death
or bankruptcy in his efforts to build
| up this city Our business men do not
and intelligence destroyed nor dimin,
,ished We do not want the revenue,
OF Fort Worth diverted to Dallas and
other rival cities We want to supply
the trade with all articles desired Mer
differ in their tastes, their desires ant
In their opinions. Our policy SHOULD
be broad enough and liberal to enabl,
all honest men to respect 1t and I,
dwell together without strife. No cit,
can become great without harmon,
or where Its policies are unjust to am
great number of Its citizens. The maj
whose lust for greed and gain blind
him to moral questions Is equally a
extreme and unjust as the man VIII,
would sacrifice the business interest
of a city to carry out his peculiar vley
OF moral reform. Both are dangerou
to the peace and prosperity OF a city
yet both are violent and aggressiv
upon the rights of others and shout
be held in check. Neither or them ar
willing TO conccde anything. Fac
strives for an advantage by fair mean
or foul and INDUCES In violent an
bitter invectives. Cities cannot thirty
, II either the fool or fanatic Is placed {
authority Conservative. fair-mlnde
| business men occupy the middle groun
, OF safety and just dealing, They cor
, ce1e 10 every man equal rights to ever
man under the law Liquor dealer
and drinkers are not criminals. The
, have the same right under the law I
sell or drink liquor MS teetataler ha
10 refuse to taste or handle IL Tn
, question now IS not whether II Is rlph
, or wrong 10 sell or drink llduor In
/ whether It SHAH be Sold In Fort WORT
. Is It the best policy to close the saloon
= In Fort Worth and depend upon othe
. cities and the whisky peddlers nm
Z blind tigers OF local option to sunni
. the demand or shall It be supplied Il
: honest open dealers at Fort Wortl
acting under the supervision Of m
law2 Shah We refund To llquor don
crs the thousands OF dollars we nm
/, collected as occupation tax and maj,
! good the deficit by Increasing the hi,
, dcns OF taxation on othens? Shall "a,
i drive the thousands Of mon now sn,
: norted by the liquor traffic Win thHl
families 10 other cities or Fore. thn,
10 enter into other lines OF husins.
! and employment which are nl~ea A
ovescrowded aud unproatublee shS
tho hundreds OF business houses n -
a dwellings now occupied by them 90,
. tinne to yield their rich harvest Z