The Coconino weekly sun., 1896-05-07
DON'T ADVERTISE DEFAMATION,

the firm stand taken by the Murray (Ky.) Ledger" in the matter of whisky advertising, The editor says: "If the saloon people desire to expatiate on the merits 2 of any particular brand of their damnation, they can look else, where for a medium through which to extol its virtues. The Ledger" makes no claim to qualification, but when a saloonkeeper tells us that S6 aa. in Ledger" has sold him Sl200 worth of whisky, it makes us feel that we have been in small measure responsible for the damage done, and we promise to sin no mors.'"
 The above is another evidence, that try as they may, it is impossible for the advocates of the whisky traffic to lead any person of sound judgment to rccog- nize the business as a legitimate one. Who ever heard of man being con science stricken because S6 advertise ment of groceries led to the sale of Sl200 worth of that line of goodsl All the fuss and protestation our friends of the other side can make has but little effect on any candid mind. The courts, the community which creates the courts, the men who make up the con- munity, are practically agreed in all civilized countries that the sale of in toxicants is not legitimate business.
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 Our own community has shown its recognition of this fact by imposing license on this business above the license paid by any other enterprise. Our territory imposes Q similar license and provides also that the saloons Tn each community shall be closed on cleo. tion days-an unheardo of restriction to be put upon legitimate business; and further provides, that no minor shall enter one of these places unattended by his guardian or parent. Hardware and fruit stores are subject to no such pro- vision. Why2 The answer is obvious. Whether it be impossible to prohibit the traffic in liquors or not, is a matter for discussion and has to do merely with policy. That the saloon is an evil is an admitted fact by the best author ities of our day, and the conviction is spreading rapidly. There may be some question es to how to control it, but that it must be controlled does not ad- init of question.
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 Now, if these things are true, the question arises as to the duty of this community. Are we doing all we can to neutralize the effect of this evill Are we throwing around our homes and our children and the community in general, all the safeguards possiblel It can scarcely be affirmed that we are, and asa suggestion in the line of ad- vance, why would it not be well for our new city council to put itself on record by passing an ordinance closing the saloons at proper hour of the night, instead of permitting them to run all night. Under the present arrangement they constitute positive expense upon community and menace to its peace and well being also. There is no req son why these houses should be open after midnight. It is very rarely that any one desires to transact any legiti. mate business after that hour, and it follows, therefore, that the men found in the saloon during the early morning hours are there because the saloonA open, not vice versa, and, like the one of old, these latter day prodigals are wasting their substance in riotous liv. ing" Such waste and such practices are great detriment to any com. munity; first, because they divert and keep money cut of the channels of proper and healthful business, and, second, because they tend to debauch and demoralize a portion of the citizen. ship of the community and make it non-productive and burden upon the remainder.
 %"*
 As matter of fact, this same argu- ment is valid against the existence of the saloon at all; but ten.fold so against It's keeping its doors open at such un- seemly hours.
 It is for such reforms as this. there. fore, that we plead. Not because the majority of the members of this lodge