Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-05-25
A Shot From the Side.
EDITOR De Smet News:

Shot From the Side.
EDITOR De Smet News:
The writer hereof begs leave to ac-
knowledge his appreciation OF News
late charge that worst of foes to town,
country, state and nation, wis.,, "Thc
American Saloon" The dear
people" are very free to administer .
kick to the editor upon the slightest
provocation, but when there is any
thing to commend, we think about It
but rarely give 1t expression.
The newspaper is powerful factor
In the direction OF public concerns
and 1 believe its power for good Lead
ing toward the best things for the
community, would be greatly en-
hanced and given more prominence
did we but make more use OF the
grace Of commendation.
Ihave had occasion to do a little can
vassing against the sncroachments or
the common enemy, and almost tho
only excuse or reason offered BY
those who are In favor OF the saloon,
is what the News terms present CON-
ditions." Admitting that present
conditions" are bad, and there 10 no
doubt about that, will the admission
OF one or more LICENSED drunkard
factories improve our state In any
way? On the contrary, will not (as
the Scriptures say,) our last state be
worse than our first?
The license for revenue proposition
is too petty to consider.
Everybody knows that the saloon
keeper does not pay the license.
Giving each saloon from 5000 to
$40, 900 per year and having 1t hand
you back $500 to $1,000, is a mighty
poor financial policy, and when You
accept the license fee and the saloon
starts In, it is YOUR business--has no
right and could not exist except that
you confer that right. 1t being you
business you must accept ALL re-
sponsibiliy for its veal or woe, as we'll
as the insignificant sum Of money
which is your share of the bargain
Here is part Of Elkton's share:
DIsLocATED HIS NECK.
Special to the journal.
Elkton, S. d., April 2l.-Andrew
Jackson fell from his wagon while In
his cups and was killed instantly, his
neck being broken. It is said he has
a wife and child at Walnut Grove,
Mimi.
That the liquor sold to this poor
victim was so sold by one OF those
Immaculate fellows Of good moral
character" does not lessen the horror
Of IL nor tighten the grief and burden
Of his loved ones.
II is a noticeable fact that the
good moral character" Of the saloon
man is never In evidence except whom
he applies for his license. With that
he gets certificate OF good moral
character" and proceeds to do law
breaking law-defying and immoral
business-and sad it 10 to face the fact
that boys are the only material from
which future custom must come.
The saloon apologist will tell you
that: They must not cell to boys''-
but they do; 'thsy must not sell
on Sunday"-but they do; they must
not sell to drunkards'' but they do.
In fact, every prohibitive provision Of
the license law is violated every week.
The only provision complied with
being the payment Of the license fee.
As the licensed, protected-by-law sa-
loon violates the law, SO also do its
off-springs, the blind-pigger, the boot
logger, and the fellow behind the drug
sign Violates the law. Were 1t not for
the licensed sale, the Illicit sale could
not exist. Without license the seller
is sneak and OUTLAW; with license
he is a man Of good moral character
according to statute in such case
made and provided.
A man is no more moral than Is the
business which he conducts, and the
stigma attaching to the poor, dsluded
liquor-seller and his family, If such he
has, ought to be sufficient proof that
the good moral character propo-
sition is delusion and farce.
But / forget that I am a ''fanatical
cnrank," and have gensbeyond what
/ started out to say, thus encroach-
ing on your time and patience.
Again commencing yoa for the good
words expressed, am yours truly,
CHAs. e. CARLYLE.
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