The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-04-24
MINING.
sosros April .. iss
EDITORIAL.

Was It Buncombe. or Was liz Meant
Ii was reported in these columns lately
that when the marshal and nightwatch
men were appointed the president of thi'
village informed them that the only way
for them to hold their official positions
was to do their duty and instructed
them TO do so. and in this view OF the sit
uation several of the village fathers con
Cured. Are these instructions being car
ried out? From what we have lately
heard we should think not, for il has
lately been reported at this Office that
some of the saloonkeepers have been
known to harbor persons when on ca
rouse all night, while others only keep
them until or O'Clock in the morning.
Does this show that the officers are at
tending to their duty? We think not,
and from which it would seem that some
OF the saloonkeepers are either above the
law or are law unto themselves.
The law gives the saloonkeeper the
right TO sell his wares within certain
hours. How many of them confine the
carrying on OF their trade TO these hours?
During such hours they are legally en-
titled to sell, under certain restrictions,
their wares to such persons who may
choose to patronise them; but the law
steps in and prohibits their sale after
certain hour, presumably with the inten-
ton OF throwing mantle OF protection
over the man who has, perhaps, over
stepped the bounds OF moderation and.
by closing the bars at IL o'clock. pre-.
venting him obtaining more drink and
30 enable him to go home and sober off
and be in position to attend 70 bust
ness the next day. This would surely
give the saloonkeeper all the rights he is
entitled to under the law. and would at
the same time to certain extent protect
the customer But this law is not en-
forced. The saloons. or rather some OF
them, as must be known to the officials,
are kept open until some unreasonable
hour in the morning, which does not give
the customer, who may. unfortunately,
have drank more than was good for him,
time to prepare for the next days work.
The next morning the customer perhaps
feeling, or supposiDg he feels, an eye opener
was necessary, takes another hair off the
dog that bit him the previous night
and 80 continues carouse, perhaps
day after day, which may be known
to the saloonkeeper, TO the abs olute
neglect OF his business and family,
and all for the benefit ofthe saloonkeeper
and the downfall of the customer, and all
simply because the officials will not do
their plain duty.
The president OF this village told the Off
Gers that IL thew did not know their duties
they should inform themselves OF them
and then.carry them out and as il is an
open secret, at any rate to the night
watchmen, and probably some other of
the village officers, that but few Of the ga
looms do close at the legal hour, we, in
the interest OF many men, both young
and old. all certainly old enough to
know better, who are slowly, but
surely, drifting further from the
paths OF dccency and sobriety, call
upon the village council to see that the
hour of closing the saloons il strictly en-
forced 20 az 10 give the customers
chance and not throw all their power on
the side of the illegally acting saloon
keeper.
This il a good time for the council to
announce their firm determination that
hereafter all saloons will have TO close at
the legal hour and those persons taking
out new license will so understand mat
ters and il any not intending to keep up
to the law choose to drop out they can
very easily do so; but that those who do
take out license will do so knowing
they will have to toe the mark and then
when called over the Goals for not doing
so, neither they nor th ir friends will
have any reasonable grounds of COM
plant against the village officials or
those who in the interest OF good govern
ment may choose TO see the law IL en-
forced