The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-09-10
Its Influencein in State and
Nation.
TEMPERANCE WORK
History Of Reform Movement
Dates Back Many Years
First Prohibitory
Statute.
Legalized Evil No. 44.)

| (BegallZeQ EVIL NO. 4f.D
The history OF the temperance re-
form and of laws to suppress the
drink in this nation dates back to
1910. 1t was in that year that the
Washingtonian pledge reform began in
Baltimore, and swept over the ccun.
try until six hundred thousand peo.
pie had signed the total abstinence
pledge, of whom fully one.third kept
their pledge through life. But 1t
soon became manifest that moral
suasjon alone could not stop the
ravages of intemperance. The state Of
Maine adopted a prohibitory statute,
which was the first in this nation; AMI
within ten years thereafter fourteen
other states had adopted prohibitory
statutes. Liquor men hecamo alarm.
ed, and 1t looked as If the whole traf-
fic would be swept out of the nation
within a few years.
In 1861 the great civil war in our
nation began. and the LIQUOR meE took
the position that they would not as
sist in putting down the rebellion un.
less all prohibitory laws were re-
pealed. Those were dark hours for
our nation, and politicians gave heed
to the demands OF the rum power.
On July 1st, 1862, the liquor traffic wos
taken into partnership with the gov.
eminent by the passage of the inter-
N VI =
the traffic at home and abroad, and is
in force today so that in every state
in the union, whether prohibitory
state or otherwise, the general govern.
ment gives it's consent to this traffic,
and permits saloons in the national
capitol in close proximity to the
house of representatives and the u.
s. senate; and vessel loaded with
N. +. rum or Milwaukee beer, has as
much protection from our govern
ment as have the vessels that carry
missionaries and Bibles to forcign
lands. And this terrible condition of
things is sanctioned by our Chris.
tian voters when they support any po.
litical party that uphOlds tax or IL
cense for this ruinous business.
Up to the outbreak Of the civil war
the liquor men were not organized,
but in one week after the fall cleo.
tion in 1862, viz, November 18th
1862, the National Brewers associa.
tion was formed, and the National Ii
Quor Gealers' ASSOCIATION ve.v soon
thereafter. And very soon after the
organization of the liquor interests,
they served notice upon all political
if they expected their friendship and
support. This is always the price of
the liquor mems support. They have
no patty or creed that will interfere
With their ruinous business; they are
ready to knife any man, party, or the
government IL they stand i'll the way Of
their traffic.
Very soon resolutions too numerous
to mention were adopted by the Ii.
quor organizations, but want of space
forbids our quoting these, yet this was
among them; "We will support no
man for any office who is unfriendly
to our traffic" Also this: 1--WE win
use all honorable means to deprive the
political and puritanical temperance
men from power"
Thirty-nine years ago the saloon
went into our American politics. II
went in with the determination to
rule or ruin" both the old national
parties. Ii has accomplished its OBJ
ject. Both parties are now on their
knees doing the bidding Of the liquor
vote. The saloon is in the saddle and
controls the policy Of both parties. The
politicians have all got the lock-jaw
on the liquor question. Brewers, sa
loon men and liquor sellers are dele
gates in the great conventions of both
parties. The political newspapers are
mute on the liquor question. The SD
loon vote is courted by both parties
| and both parties are very careful mo-
TO utter word against the saloon, ant
both parties stand ready to give then
tax and license laws for the legaii
zation of their traffic.
! Governors, congressman, pol'tica
press, legislators, mayors and police
officers are at the mercy OF the run
power. and even the pulpit and reli
gious press are not az aggressive
against the saloon as they were 3'
years ago. All are under the wither
ing curse which they have been yot
ing for these many years, in uphold
ing tax and license laws for the pro
lection and legalization of the saloon
The saloon is not only in our politic
! but it is here to rule, and will thu
, continue as long as tax and licens
parties are kept in power.
The saloon has given us wise les
: son and one that every good citi,el