The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-06-08
W. T-.U. COLUMN
CONDUCTED By MRS. NJ. L. HOBBS.
THE WAY TRADE" WAS MAUE.
A Clear ard Concise Statement OF th'
EvC.ution Of the Modern
American Saloon.

TSometim, before his death the
late ID. X. Locke, petroleum v.
Nasby) wrote an article on "Prohi-
bition" for The North American
Review. After telling how German
beer was introduced into this count
ry, Mr.. Locke describes the devei-
opement Of beer trade, and from
this description we make the follow
ing extracts
The brewers saw in this their OPP
portunity. They built great brew
cries, some Of them with capacity
going a long way up into the hun
dreds of thousands of barrels per an
mum. which was not to be wondered
at, as the profit on each barrel was
from 81 so to So.
Then came the important ques-
Ition, how was this great volume OF
beer to be sold? These acute men
were not long in solving that Prob
lem. They took their good hard
dollars and estab ished everywhere
what is now known as tie "beer
saloon" They found for them
conscienceless creatures, wit Meth
er morals or decency, who ne 'er had
money enough to pay fora neal Of
vctuals, hang dog fellows with long
lmustaches, and trousers chewed of
at the heels, with dirty necklies tc
hide still more dirty shirts, paper
collars twice turned abomination
who would be thieves tut for the
! lack of courage; the fellows whC
crawl tetween heaven and earth
living, the good Lord who permits
them, only knows how. They tool
! this class of persons and rented
for them each a room or two, anC
pu. in counter, some round pln'
tables and cheap chairs; they sup
plemented a cheap pool-table and
|few packs of cards, and put in be
, hind the bar keg of beer, a fey
bottles of whisky and some glasses
land set them to work, perfect equip
,|ped DEVILS missionaries.
How could they afford to trus
this property with such men? Moth
lingcculd be more safe. They coul'
not sell tit remained their proper
|ty, all there was of it. The keepe
was compelled to sign an agreemen
to sell so many kegsof their beer
lday. as the conditions of enjoyingth
a use of the place. Of course, tn
lbeer had to be paid for on delivery
> 50 all the capital required was tn
price of one small keg, whic
amounted from 81 to $3.50. |
most cases the poor wretch did nc
have this triiling amount, and tn
sbrewer was forced to give him tn
first keg on credit. But as there al
lone hundred glasses OF beer in
Of barrel, and as eac
glass brings five cents, the del
was always safe one.
Now comes the point. This poo
devil, this tool OF the brewer, has
sell so much beer a day to keep b
, place. He has to paythe rent OF II
..saloon, /" for the brewer either owl
} lit or is responsible for it, and also /
I, must pay for so much beer per dlen
Ice This new system changed the 81
r. tire nature Of the business. III
-|retailer is no longer the quiet ma
engaged in a reputable businel
(for, in its best estate, liquor selllr
has never counted respectable trade
hut he is a missionary for the diff
; .Ision of alcohol, and an urgent, il
|defatigable fastner Of the alcoh
|appetite uponjus as many as he ca
0.|g get his unclcan hands upon. /
all goes out in search Of customers, ar
IN by his efforts liquor is no longer
all passive nuisance, but an actlv
W aggressive evil.
s. How does he do it? He has
Thousand different ways. He max
n. Ibis rooms as pleasant as possible
t. |he takes the daily newspaper
ny which are free to his customers;
on hangs cheap but attractive pictur
IL !. lon the walls-always Of demori
atlizing nature, for his business is
'e. demoralize; he provides games
chance and skill for his customer
\ 1.-The stakes being always beer; he !
= lvires workingmen to sit in his plac
- where there is a warm stove in &
ch winter. and artificially cooled air
nd summer; he spreads cheap lun
70 70 which is free to all corners, 7
I'D yiands being invariably thirst pl
at at|voking, and all this sort Of thing.
rr~ ho ooptipuad I