The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-10-27
e. e. GOODRICH

the cash drawer of the saloonist would
be better employed in the purchase of
furniture and furnishings for the home
and of food and raiment for the fam
lily. Merchants in legitimate lines
lose what the saloonist gains.
The present situation is wellnigh.
unbearable. The fragrant violation of
this law should not be tolerated and if
the public sentiment which surely
still exists here be thoroughly aroused
and suitably formulated, it will not be
tolerated long. The public sentiment
against this open violation of law
should be so crystalized and uttered in
such laundering tones that no man
dare resist it. Fellow citizens, we
have sacred duty to perform. We
have been sleeping. Let us arouse
from our apathy and give our public
officials such backing as will not only
make it possible, but easy to enforce
the law. This has been done in the
past, it can be done now, and there
can be no possible excuse for failure.
If, having done our full duty as citi-
zens, our officials do not do theirs, let
US at the proper time see to it that we
elect officials who will.
The writer wishes to assume his
full share Of responsibility for the
deadly apathy on this burning ques-
tion that now exists. Pressure of bus
iness is not sufficient excuse. Put
ting behind us the mistakes of the
past, let us face the situation and do
our full duty and let us see to it that
no such situation can again be pos
sibe. If the drug stores of the town
are also violating the law, let them
be compelled to face the music along
side the saloons. All violators of law
should be treated alike.
This subject should be agitated in
public and in private, by the fireside
and in the social circles, until a senti-
ment be aroused that our officials will
not wish to ignore, and dare not, if
they would and that no saloonist dare
face.
The writer does not wish to criticize
the private habits of any man. Each
man must answer for his habits to his
friends who are affected by them, to
his conscience and to his God. But it
is the privilege of each citizen to fight
with all his power against the es-
tablshment of the open saloon, which
by its treating custom leads our young
men into habits of drink that so often
result in confirmed intemperance.
vice and crime, and it is the sacred
duty of all order loving, law-abiding
citizens to insist with all their force
; that while our prohibition ordi-
nance remains on our statue books, it
must and shall be enforced.
The astonishing argument is some
times made for the saloon that there
would not be much more liquor sold il
! they be unrestrained by law than has
been done during the recent months
and that the town would derive some
financial benefit from taxes provided
), by law. 1t is sufficient to reply thai
: the remedy for violation of good law
= is not its repeal but it's enforcement
{ What thoughtful citizen can be willing
to legalize this deadly traffic and throw
u wide open the saloon door for th'
J temptation of the youth of our towr
. for all time to come, for the sake of tn,
paltry dollars that may be derived
u from taxation. 1t is inconceivabl
q that the voters of Wellington will eve
J do it.
u An apparently unauthorized notic
y of an election as an expression ofpubli
II sentiment on this question appeare,
n in the last issue of the Enterprise. !
y such an election he finally authorize
II by our public officials, let every vote
u who has at heart the good name of ou
y town and the highest well being of it
oI citizens for the future, old and young
le rally again to the polls and agai
l. record their emphatic condemnatio
Of the open saloon.