Willmar tribune., 1900-03-14
CHAPTER ~.

mapped out when be came to Milton,
he spent much Of his time in the after.
Moons studying the social. and civic life
OF the town. AS the first Sunday of
the next month drew near. when lie
was to speak again on the attitude OF
: Christ to some aspect OF modern socie:
ty, he determined to select the saloon
rs one Of the prominent features OF
modern life that would naturally be
noticed by Christ and doubtless: be de-
nounced BY him as q great evil. s.s
In his study Of the saloon question he
did tldng which he had never done.
before. and then only after very much
elaboration and prayer. He went into
the saloons themselves on different oc-
casions. he had never done such Il
thing before. He wanted to know from
actual knowledge what sort Of places
the saloons We're. What he saw after,
q dozen visits to as many different
groggeries added fuel to the fame ot
Indignation that burned already hot IN
him. The sight Of the vast army OF
created in him loathins and a hatred
of the whole iniquitous institution that
language failed to express. He won
dered with unspeakable astonishment
in his soul that civilized community
in the nineteenth century would toler-
ate for one moment the public sale OF
an article that led, on the confession of
society itself. to countless crimes
against the law of the land and of God
His indignant astonishment ueepenel
yet more. II that were possible. when
he found that the license Of $500 Il
year for each saloon was used by the
town to support the public school sys
tenn. That. to Philips mind, was an
awful sarcasm on Christian civi!iza
ton. 1t seemed to him like selling a
man poison according to law and then
taking the money from the sale to help
the widow to purchase mourning. Ii
was full as CHASTITY as that would he.
ministers, hoping to unite them In a
combined attack on the saloon power.
1t seemed to him that II the church as
a whole entered the crusade against
the saloon it could be driven out even
from Milton. where 1t had been so long
established. To his surprise. he found
the other churches unwilling to unite
In public battle against whisky men.
Several OF the ministers openly ue
tended license as the only practicable
method Of dealing With the saloon. All
Of them confessed it was evil. and only
evil, but under the circumstances
thought 1t would do little good to agi
tate the subject. Philip came away
from several interviews with the min
listers sad and sick at heart. 20. -. .s 4.
He approached several Of the promt
nent men In the town. hoping to enlist
some of them in the fight against the
rum power. Here he met with an un.
expected opposition. coming in a form
he had not anticipated. One prominent
citizen said: .~-a
"Nr. Strong, you will ruin your
chances here II you attack the saloons
in this savage manner, and III tell you
why: The whisky men hold a treme1l-
uVu0 lAAOCACC III MA(OA III kuc ICl
Of political power. The city election
comes of the middle OF next month
The men up for Office are dependent
for election on the votes Of the saloon
men and their following. You will cut
your head OF sure II you come out
against them In public. Why, there's
lr. .a-- and SO on (he named half
dozen mem in your church who are up
for Office In the coming election. They
can't be elected without the votes of
the rummies, and they know it. Bet
ter steer clear Of 1t. Mr.. Strong. The
saloon has been regular thing in MIL
ton for over so years. 1t is as much q
part Of the town as the churches or
schools, and tell you it is a powerr'
cried Philip. In unbounded
astonishment, "do, you tell me. you, a
leading citizen of this town OF 10000
infinite souls, that the saloon. power
has it's grip to this extent on the civic
and social life of the place, and you
are willing to sit down and let this
devil of crime and ruin throttle you
and not raise a finger to expel the
monster? Is 1t possible? 1t is not in
Christian America that such state of
affairs in our political life should be
endured 5 4 ( 4. "a &@.s3
'''.Nevertheless," replied the business
man, these are the facts. And you
will simply dash your own life, out
against a wall Of solid rock il you try
to fight this evil. You have my warn
Ing" .. ...%. .=s. E. .. II
"May not also have your help?"
cried Philip, hungry Of soul for COM
panionship In the struggle which he
saw was coming. &. sszss s #s,s
s.lt would ruin my business to come
out against the saloon" replied the
man frankly. 35Is*
And what is that ~ cried Philip ear
nestly. 1T has already ruined far
more that ought to be dear to you.
Man, man, what are money and bust-:
ness compared with your own flesh
and blood? Do you know where your.
own son was two nights ago? II one
of the yilest OF the vile holes In this
city, which you, q father, license to an
other man to destroy the life OF your
own child! ! saw him there myself.
md my heart ached for him and you.
It'll the necessary truth. VIII you not
Join with me to wipe out this curse In
society @ q
Tho merchant 5tren bled, and hts lips
quivered at mention of his son, but he
replied:
s7.'1 cannot Do what you Kant Mr.