The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-03-11
The License Question.

The License Question.
In last weeks issue Of the Globe a
contributor 81 gning IS" to his article
endeavors to cast ridicule on our ar
gument in favor of no-license. This
same party has a great ambition to
see his articles in print, but in this
case endeavors to conceal his identi-
ty; as to the cause, we leave our read
ers to draw their own conclui ons.
He gives us credit for ian entirely
new and unheard-of argument" but
fails to contradict any portion of it,
but insinuates that 1T consists of a
bid for the support of an element
that contributed to the defeat of H.
cense two years ago, only to make
use Of the existing state of affairs to
deal in the traffic themselves" We
leave this to our readers to accept as
they see fit. AS to ''blind pigs" we
again assert, using his own words.
'iudging from the comment heard up
on all sides," if we have to endure
either of the two evils the ''pig" is
preferable, because if minors are
able to procure liquor when they ex->
list, it is only those who associate with
frequenters of those resorts. There
are numberless others with better as
sQciates who will not have licensed
saloon staring them in the face and
thereby encouraging them in the
idea that saloon must be alright or
men they look upon as exemplaries
would not enter them, and if there
has been failure to suppress "blind
pigs* il is 10 reason temperance Peo?,
pie should give Up The cause n...s- ~ ~. ~.
idle, even If they do have law break
ers to contend with.
IS" says the prohibitionest "bobs
up spasmodically few days prior to
our village election, lying down when
it is over whether successful or not"
They do not lie down any more than
some Incorporate men quit trying to
traffic in liquor. There is no ques-
ton that does not slumber after
crisis has passed and there is no ques-
ton in this country that is placed be-
fore the people in it's true light more
than the liquor question continually
is, between each and every election.
IS" further says: "The prohibi-
ZIONIST is bent solely on legislating
the moral standing of their fellow
men by resolve that you cannot
buy drink in an open and legitimate
way thereby infringing the very
right guaranteed to every American
citizen, that he shall have free
thought and action. Just as long as
mems appetites crave stimulants he
will satisfy that craving, and as long
as the article is made there will be
men to buy it; if unable to get; it
here then they will send away for: It. -
If our freedom is not to be taken
away why put men on the black list;
let them drink as long as they can
swallow. But there is little hu-
manity left and inveterate drunkards
are put on the black list and their
freedom denied. "Men's appetites
crave stimulants." What causes the
craving? The first drink. Will that
craving be stifed by licensing sa-
looms? Never! There are any num-
ber of moderate drinkers who would
never go near blind pig for drink
and their appetite would grow less
and cease if the opportunity for a So
cial drink was not before them in the
shape of an open saloon; thus again
the effect of the open saloon is felt.
The money paid into the village
treasury as license is taken over the
bar of the saloon from people who
can least afford it. This decreases
the taxes of some of the taxpayers,
but they are called upon to pay the
taxes caused by crime arising from
liquor consumed, either in money or
by death; the former is on record in
the office Of this county, the latter
has not occurred in this county to
our knowledge, but has in others not
far distant.
"S' is too intelligent to construe
our article as endeavoring to advocate
a reign of zone eyed porkers." OF
the two evils they are preferable, but
there is no excuse for their existence.
We are not bidding for. the sup
port of one element and much less
are we attempting to antagonize the
other, but our idea of a paper is that
it should fairly present principles on
the side Of any question that is be-
fore the people for their considera-
ton. The present council has labor
ed hard and untiringly for the bene-
fit of the village and we see where
no just criticism can be made. They
have faithfully performed the duties
Of the office to which they were elect
ed, their number being reduced two
by death, which was regretted by ev-
cry person il this village.
Litchfield w OO]en Mills.