West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1898-10-29
W. G.. I. u. COLUMN

h the Saloon Beneficial to the Bust
ness Of the TOWN.
When we go TO the business men
OF city or town aud ask them for
financial or othe. help in any phi
lanthropic work we are as a general
thing, sure of their sympathy and
help; but when they are asked
to assist in any active temperance
work or to do anything that will
antagonize the saloon, they are al
most sure to refuse on the ground
that "It will hurt their business"
Now, if this is legimate excuse,
and 1t certainly must be or so many
business men would not give it, the
saloon must in some way benefit
the business of community. Let
us see IT this.is true. When any new
business enterprise is talked of we
are told that it will build up the
town by giving employment to
large number of men.
They must have homes, so rents
will advance; must be clothed, so
our dry goods and furnishing
houses will have larger custom;
must be fed, therefore the demand
for bread, meat and all kinds of
produce will increase. Fruit and
vegetables now almost a drug on
the market, will find ready sale and
thus not only the town, but all the
surrounding country will be direct
ly benefited.
Money will circulate more freely
and the financial depression that
has crippled trade will be removed.
Churches and Sunday schools will
be reinforced and new zeal will be
given to every department of relig-
ious work. Is this true of the
saloon business? We believe that
the saloon is injury to business of
every kind.
First-It is not legitimate bus
mess. In a Legitimate business, the
purchases gets that for his money
which is of more value to him than
the money paid for it; but the sa q.
loon takes from Our men and bows
their money, their business; their
credit, their good name, their
homes, their happiness, their
souls-and what does it give in re-
turn for all this? An endless etern-
lty of misery to them and suffering,
poorly, disgrace, ruin and degra-
ton to their families.
Second-It takes from every
kind of business money which
rightfully belongs to that business.
It is estimated that in one wear
for Intoxicating liquors $16.o6 for
each man, woman and child in the
United States. Think of this one
moment business men, and con-
slider what it would have meant to
you If b immense sum of money
had been spent for food and
rainent, houses and lands.
Third-The saloon openly defes
law and order and SO Injuries the
reputation and hence the reputation
of town. When the saloonist
takes out his license he Injuries him
self by taking oath to sell accord
ing to law when he knows if he
did. he never would make enough
to paw the license or tax.
He openly violates every provi-
sion of the law regulating his bust
ness every day of his life and de-
fes the authorities to help them
selves. Did he not pay his license?
and did not the officer granting
that license, tacitly agree to protect
him VIXEN he took from him the
license fee? And if any class of
men in city openly break the laws
the entire city is injured thereby.
Fourth-The saloon lowers the
moral and religions tone of the
town: 1t is we'll known that cap
italists want to invest their money
where law and order prevail and
where people are actuated by
christian principles and motives.
If the churches of the town have
large and active membership and
the Sabbath schools are we'll at
tended, If all the business houses
are closed and the Sabbath kept
in the spirit as we'll as the letter Of
the law, that town will be consid-
cred law abiding place; business
men will have no fears about in
Vesting capital taere. But the sa-