The Tucson citizen., 1902-04-05
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT

Quoted in such a manner as not to
lower but to elevate the characters of
those employed in it, as we'll as of
those who visit IL. 1t should be not
only a resort, but club, and in many
cases papers, periodicals and artistic
decorations may give ii an intellectual
! atmosphere. The old English taverns,
where Johnson. Goldsmith, Burke and
other celebrities gathered. were great
! factors in the political and literary
history of mighty empire. and there
is no good reason why the saloons of
the United States should not make for
the uplifting of the people rather than
for decentralization
Progress in recent years In the re-
gulation OF the beer and whiskey
traffic has consisted, in fact, in efforts
to divorce the occupation of selling
stimulants from demoralizing associa-
tions. In many European countries,
notably Sweden, the state has sought
to supply pure whiskey under cir
cumstances that will not tend to en-
courage excessive drinking. and the
effort has been found profitable both
to the consumer and to the city trea-
suries.
In South Carolina good results have
been obtained from similar plan, but
not to like extent, owing partly to
the State monopoly being a party
measure, ansi partly to the shortcom-
ings of the States agents, the char
acter of large part of the population
creating an additional difficulty. In
England something is being done on
analogous lines, A bishop advocates
| the managing of saloons by religious
persons, who will supply a pure
whiskey and beer when called for, but
will seek to induce topers to take cof-
| fee and tea instead. and will try to
convert the saloon into an agreeable
club Of an elevating and refining char
acter. The bishop adds papers, maga-
zines, books. music. etc, to the charms
OF his saloons. and makes it always
plain tnat he places the emphasis on
his light lunch with hot tea and cof-
fee rather than on the alcoholic drink
He contends that desire for stim-
uant Is inherent in human nature at
certain ages. and under certain circum-
stances, 1t has to be recognized. he
thinks, as inevitable, and fought with
tact. by pittlng counter-attraction
against whiskey, gin and rum, not by
futile efforts at absolute prohibition.
To a large extent the saloon, it is
argued. with all its demoralizing as
sociations, is the poor mans club-the
only one he will have and use until in
telligent reformers and progressive
civilization provide him with better
ones. In recent years dairy lunch"
houses have been tried in the larger
cities of the East. notably in Washing
ton. and have exerted reforming in
fluence by atrording an alternative
place of resort. The quick lunch"
houses in Eastern cities, have also to
some degree ext rted like influence.
Upon all but confirmed topers" and
experienced and veteran moderate
drinkers" the habit of tippling sits
lightly; it may. be dethroned by
counter attractions. Human nature
may oe guided out Of bad courses by
wise measures when it cannot be
driven. The mistake of the prohibi- !
tionists is that they seek to expel it /
from mankind instanter thus produc- |
ing an artificial spirit Of resistance. /
Short Of total abstinance the Wine and |
Spirit Circulars scheme to keep a |
decent place must be commended as a |
step of progress. The drawback even of /
the decent place is that it inevitably
tends to increase profits by pushing
sales without close attention to the
harm done.