Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1896-06-10
". c. I. U. COLUMN.
SELECTED BY NORRIS UNION.
How the Dram-s shop Helps Business
[By Prof. George E. Foster, NJ. P.l

| 2. The dram-shop decreases the
purchasing capacity of the people
It is quite plain that the purchasing
capacity of community is measured
by its earning power. How ther
does the dam-shop effect the earning
power of community.
/ The first result of the dram-shop il
| to cause loss of time and idleness
Men spend hours in tipping, when
they ought to be at work. Men pass
days in sprees and "drunks" when
they ought to be at their trade. Men
lose situations on account of drinking
and are for days and weeks without
employment, and earning nothing
Suppose in town you have zoo
workingmen, earning $l.5O per day.
Their aggregate earnings are $500 per
day, or $500 per week. Now, if
dram-shops are set up in this town,
and one-half the workers learn to
tipple and drink and lose on an aver
age one day per week, the earnings
amount to $3.50 less per week, or
So 800 less per year. In Great Brit
ain it is estimated that the labor
power loses one day in every six on
account of drunkenness.
Whence come the loungers and
loafers, and tramps that congregate
on our streets, or roam our country.
They are, in nine cases out of ten the
idle graduates of the dram-shop.
Whence come the hosts of drunk
and disorderlies, who not only do not
earn, but who live at the expense of
earners, our jails and prisons? Why
are these not at work? The dram
shops have ruined them, and turned
them from earners into non-earners.
Whence come the violent, abusive,
thieves, Migrants and murderers?
Official statistics tell us that rs per
cent of them are the result of drink,
and the dram-shop is the mill in
which drink grinds down its victims
from honest, sober, orderly and in
dustrious citizens, into criminals of
every grade. Close the dram-shops,
keep people sober and industrious,
and the earning power, and with it
the trade of the country, would be
vastly increased.
3. The dram-shop cripples the
productive power of every industry.
Here is factory employing 500
hands. The raw material comes in,
the finished article goes out and sup
plies the wants of society. When
does the factory do its best work?
When the hands are industrious,
steady and skillful. Whatever assists
in these respects helps the factory.
A provision store is set up near by.
Good, for now the men will get their
food cheap, convenient and of excel
lent quality, and thus be helped.
A clothier's establishment is pro-
vided. Good, for now the men get
serviceable clothes with least expend-
iture Of money and time, and so are
helped.
A doctor opens an Office. Good,
for now the men can have advice and
attendance, and thus be helped to get
well and keep we'll.
A schoolhouse and church are built
close by, and give guarantee that the
moral and intellectual wants of the
men will be looked after. The fac
tory welcomes all these and does bet
ter work for their assistance
Now the dram-shop comes, eagerly
DESTROYS, of course, to help the fac
tory. What results? Does it supply
any raw material, any new machinery
for the factory; any food, clothes,
or comfort for the men any stimulus
to noble ambition and honest effort?
/. None whatever. The dram shop
does not deal in such things. 1t sim
ply opens its bar. displays its drinks,
beckons. morning, noon and night, to
the passing workman, and with siren
voice invites them in. 1t grinds it's
music, flashes its lights, proffers its
games, and allures the workman from
his home of rest or his place of labor.
One after another drops in, tipples
and drinks; the habit grows, the APP
petite forms, disorder increases, ca
rousal becomes the order; loss of
time, drunken debauch and crime
follow There is a loss in the indus
try, steadiness and skill of the work
men; the work is confused, lags in