Willmar tribune., 1899-12-20

latter statement witness the defense of
blindpiggery by persons who themselves do
not drink and who would not keep man
in his employ who drinks strong liquors.
The semi-respectability thrown about the
dealing in alcoholic poisons by the long
continued licensing of the same clings in
the minds of those people even after the
business has been out-luwed.
*x*
The vast ma jOrity of people are agreed
that the drinking evil should be reduced to
a minimum. There are some who believe
that the better plan is to license few
looms and regulate them closely. But we
have shown before in these columns, and
the people OF Willmar know from expert
ence how that works in practice. Even were
it possible to elect an administration Op-
posed to the evil which would undertake to
regulate the saloons they would if success
full in that find themselves confronted with
the bind-pig question just the same. with
less chance of being able to punish them.
But such council would hardly be elected
as long as license wins. The man who pays
the fiddler has the privilege Of saying what
music be played. and in practice it has pro-
ven that the saloon gang which furnishes
the principal revenue Of. a town generally
runs that town. mayor. council. police.
finance and all. The saloon and liquor in
terests are closely united and are intensely
interested in village affairs. Hence it fol-
lows that when no other force is equally
alert and watchful, the gang has it's own
way.
&c fhn cfO1, 1;el1 <>G a.
gang to keep the finances of the village in
such deplorable condition that their blood
money will be considered necessary to keep
the town from ruin. They would cry out be-
fore election that they alone could save the
town. and thus deceive many who could alb
solutcly see no escape from the apparent
logic of their conclusions. The old obsolete
village charter has been the bulwark of the
saloons at Willmar for years past. Under
it no adequate taxes could be levied and
without saloon money it would have been
impossible to even pay the interest on the
bonded debt. Hence when citizens move
ment was started little over year ago to
{ secure reorganization Of the village
more suitable to its present needs. and a
special election was held. the whiskey gang
and its friends fought incorporation tooth
and nail. They did that although they
knew that under the then existing condi-
tions the town was virtually bankrupt. as it
was completely at the mercy of anyone who
held village orders in any amount. We
mention this only to show what power and
influence this liquor gang assumes when re-
peatedly given permission to ply its busi-
ness. Instead of being controlled, it has be-
come the controlling power.
*x*
At the last village election the people arose
and gave the saloon gang "black eye, as
they supposed. They deprived it of it's legal
permission. But another complication arose.
instead OF electing men who were especially
interested in seeing the new policy of the vii
1age successful, the voters elected mon with
out reference to their professions on the liquor
question. They were selected because they
held certain views on the tariff and other ma
' tional issues
*x*
The result has been that while the saloons
were outlawed the saloon gang still retained
to large extent their influence in the govern
ment Of the village. The saloons, with one or
two exceptions at first, never closed at all.
They remained open, selling strong drink on
the sly. For many weeks they even flaunted
their signs in the faces OF the public. These
were removed only after protest had been
lodged with the mayor by the women of the
village. Otherwise the appearance of the old
saloons have not changed to this day, and
strangers Fush oyer from trains yet to secure
drinks:
The SO-0alled republican organization made
such protestations Of their desire to enforce
| the laws and their conduct had been vouched
for by such supposed strong temperance men
| that for long time the temperance people
! awaited with patience the alleged strict en-
| forcement that was to come But they watt
| ed in vain. Finally, after six months had
elapsed, the Anti-Saloon League interfered
| and caused q number OF arrests to be made.
| In each case the accused waived examine ton
| and was bound over to the grand jury that
| meets in January. The city administration
| then made most pititul attempt to prosecute
| a number OF cases, which all failed because no
| evidence had been secured. 1t was such a
| bowling farce that the blind-piggers them
| selves are to-day defending the administra-
ton on the Streets declaring that it did all that
| it could be expected to do.
~
The issue is still as clear as ever it was. It is
this: SHALL THE POWER OF THE SALOON GANG
| TO DICTATE IN VILLAGE MATTERS BE BROKEN?
II the people would rule, they must: elect q
council that will execute the peoples wishes
regardless OF the interests of the saloon
gang. Remember that next spring.
~
II the council or its friends think that we are
too severe In our criticism. let them prove
that we are wrong by closing up the old sa-
looms Where there's will there's way
| II 1t will do that this column will be the first
| to give It credit therefor. There is yet time
to redeem the promises OF strict law enforce.
| ment The council cannot afford to be praised
by law-breakers. It should punish them so
they would squeal instead Of as they now do,
gTunt with Satisfaction Over the troa tn,ont r,,.