Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1895-02-08
EDITORIAL NOTES.
And Other Matters Of Interest
to the Readers Of the
Courier.
Mr.. Bartletr's Address.

Mr.. Bart1ett's Address.
The following is synopsis of Mr..
-Bartlett's temperance address delivered
in the Baptist church last Sunday night:
We say prohibition does not prohibit.
True, it does not, but to me this is abso-
lutely no argument against prohibition.
No criminal law prohibits. as matter
of fact. Our courts are filled with GRIM
inals guilty of all manner of crimes. DO
we hear it stated that because these
crimes exist the law should be repealed?
We have only to look back short time
in the history of our own county to
witness most markell instance of
miscarriage of justice. BY q jury acquit-
ting self confessed criminal. Because
the jury failed IN their duty, do we
hear it advocated that the law against
this most heinous crime should be re-
pealed? Z
You can just as easily convict men #
selling Intoxicating liquors as you can
of stealing horse or wheat. If you
can get a jury of twelve honest, Lon or
able men they will convict. Itdoes not
make any difference what the crime is
If the evidence is sufficient. 1t is not
question of sentiment when it gets into
the court, but rather ques ton of citi.
:zenship. They arc either bound to con.
wet or disregard their oath. If there
was no other benefit connected with
the prohibitory law than a. financial one
think should support 1t. 1t is the
only law know Of that aims at re.
ductlon in the consumption of lntoxi-
eating liquors. The amount of money
expended annually in the United States
for intoxicants is startling. Last year
we had tramping over this country an
army of idle men. It was estimated
that there were over 100000 in this
army, and each, day that this amy was
tramping over the land there was money
enough spent for liquors to give them
the princely salary of $8 per man. The
amount of money expended annually
would pay the national debt and in ad-
dition would employ every idle man in
the country at IS per day. Now, what
is Grig:s fcounty's proportion of this
sum! About $4,000. II We did not
have a prShibitory law, we should not
really expect that that amount would
be expended, 1t might be interesting
to know how much we actually do con.
tribute. During 1894 the people of
Griggs county, will venture to say.
spent within few dollars of 10000,
and that under prohibition as it was
conducted. This is only one third of
the general average Of the country, al.
though this is large amount of money
for three thousand people to worse than
throw away. There are men ir this
cop pnty and in this town who cannot get
trusted for groceries for their families
and yet 90 home with bottle of whis-
key in their pockets. and it is these very
gaen that are asking support from the
county, the very men who if the prohib-
itery law absolutely prohibited would
60 home with roll of calico nnder their
arm instead of bottle of whiskey in
their pocket. Now, if our friends and
the temperance element in this town
will keep on in the way they have
started for the last few months, we will
find that in 1895 that $30,0 will be
materially reduced. want to say a
word or two about local matters. You
are all we'll aware that about Dec. 20,
1894, raid was made upon the "blind
pigs" They were not blind, however,
but could see only too well. These
places were closed. Now there has
been some criticism and there has been
some praise, and want to refer to these
50 that praise may go where it is justly
due, and the criticism where it is due.
To Mr.. Enslin, SC far as know, should
10 the entire credit of instituting these
proceedings. To myself should 20 the
blame of settling and disposing of them
in the manner in which they were. 1
have been asked the question why these
parties were allowed to open up and
Why they were allowed to 60 on with
just paying their fine. IT there is any
criticism regarding that part Of this
Ausiness it should develve entirely upon
0e,. and not upon Judge Rose. These
parties were arrested (seven Of them)
and after talking with the Judge I in
1srmed them that II they would pay the