The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-10-21
Localized EVlLS--No. 73.
(Written for the News-Democrat.) }
BY JOHN DANNER

Not long ago the following CONVEX
cation is said to have taken place In
one of the largest Ohio cities, between
an intelligent heather from q foreign
country and a Christian of the city
referred to.
Heathen--What is the matter with
that man who is attracting so many
boys?
Christian-Oh, he is only drunk. He
got SO in that saloon on the opposite
corner.
Heathen-Do you allow intoxicating
liquors to be openly sold in Ohio?
Christian-Yes, if the seller pays
the Dow law tax of s350,00 year.
Heathen-Horrible. why such man
is likely to go to his home and abuse
his wife, knock down the children and
perhaps commit murder.
Cbristian-Yes, know 1t is a ter
rible thing, but you know men will
drink, therefore our state legislature
thought it wise to tax every saloon, so
as to restrict the sale, and at the same
| time put a revenue in our state treas
Try.
| Heathen-I cannot understand how
you would dare do such a thing. It
would not be allowed in our country.
! Christian--You don't understand our
| Christian institutions Only those who
pay the Dow tax can sell Intoxicating
| liquors; the law forbids all others
from doing so.
Heathen-But who has the right to
give such privileges?
Christian-Our legislature assumes
the right. 1t makes the laws.
Heathen-What restriction is there
I l.a, a l4 fVn
buying beer whisky or other intoxi-
cants?
Christian-Oh, there are no such re-
strictions this is free country.
Heathen-Then are you not mis-
taken in saying the Dow tax law re-
stricts the sale?
Christian guess l was mistaken.
1t should be said to restrict the num-
Der of saloons, but not the sale?
Heathen-Did you say your legisla-
ture makes the laws to give the right
to sell intoxicating liquors?
! Christian-Yes the laws are made
by our legislators.
Heathen-Do you vote for the men
who make it legal to deal out liquors
to the destruction of your people?
Christian-Yes, when they belong to
my party.
Heathen-Then you vote more for
party than for Christian principle; is
that SO?
! -Christian-Yes. you see IL. is the on
~ way to regulate this great evil:
Heathen-Is your church in favor OF
these tax laws, which give a permit
to deal out intoxicating liquors?
Christian-Oh, no; all our churches
are opposed by resolution to all tax or
! license laws for the traffic.
Heathen-How many voters are
there in Ohio who believe in your
Jesus Christ?
Christion-I can not tell exactly, but
about four hundred thousand.
| Heathen-Then you should have
about four hundred thousand votes
cast in Ohio against the Dow tax law;
Or any other system of license.
Christian-Oh no; nothing like it.
You see our grand old party will not
take up this question for fear of losing
the saloon vote, and you see we do not
want to throw, our votes away with
the little Prohibition party.
! Heathen-Then If your four hundred
thousand Christian voters in Ohio do
not vote against the saloon, they
must vote with and for the saloon,
or they do not vote at all.
Christian-Well ! declare that
would be a hard charge, but it does
lCok that way.
Heathen-I do not understand how
these things can be. Your church
members profess to be Christians and
declare against liquor selling, but vote
for men who make laws to give the
right to deal out intoxicating liquors
| by paying $3.50 year This appears
wrong to one who has been raised
among what you call heather peo-
! pie.
Christian-Well, really, you are
right, and it does appear that our
! churches should not declare against
liquor selling; or else have their MEM
bers vote against this wicked way Of
| granting a permit to sell.
Heathen-Certainly, to vote to givea
permit to sell Intoxicating liquors by
The payment of an annual tax OF $3.50
is against your Christian religion.
! Christian-I know it, but 1t is so
| hard to vote against my old party
| that upholds this thing.
Heathen-You told me that your
churches believe in hell, and that all
drunkards go into this place of tor
I Hleul, anu yet Hediiy dii VI ySui loui
| hundred thousand Christian voters In
Ohio vote to give the right to open
up drunkard factories-the saloon. |
think / had better go back and tell
my heather people what you Christian
people do in this country. -
Christian-I- beg of you do not do
that. 1t is not the fault Of Christ or
Christianity that such inconsistent
things are done The bible clearly
1 says: Woe to him that giveth his
neighbor drink" II is our love for
Old political parties that has hereto
jfore blinded our eyes to this sin. !
win not do 1t again
Heathen--I know that your mis-
sionaries who come among our peo-
pie would get many more converts
than they do II It was not true that
here in Ohio and in America you vote
to give legal protection to the
greatest enemy of Christianity.
Christian-I know that all this Is