The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-06-20
DOES IT PAY?

He then added, that he hated to make
such an argument, that We should ask
IL was right and argue upon q
higher plane, than the question of
whether q thing would pay or not.
But he proceeded to argue that it was
not only right but would pay the nation
10 be honest, and redeem its bonds in |
gold. The Nation sustained his posi- |
tion, paid its bonds in gold, and today |
bOrrows money st less rate of interest
than any other nation in the world. 1t /
pays To do right.
The question is asked today. in
Bellefontaiue, "Win it pay to abolish
the saloon?" Like Garfield, we feel
that It Is lowering ones manhood to
ask such question, but we ask it,
nevertheless, "Will 1t pay?' We are
told the city will lose $500 tax year,
II we Danish the saloon, and that We
cannot, therefore, afford to do such
thing.
1t Is possible that any body Is going to
put this consideration above all others?
II we are TO do this. why not go to the
full extent Of the argument, and get
rid OF the greater part Of our taxes?
Why not asses tax on saloons, running
on Sunday, and repeal all law against
Sunday selling? 1t would increase the
amount of taxes paid by the saloons
Why not license gambling houses?
Il W.. .,o,,t1 raisa q nnn poar from, m q
source? Why not license houses of i'll
fame? We could get another thousand
from that source. Ii the argument
that ''it will pay" is good one, and
that should govern our vote, why not
wipe out the taxes for public schools!
That would cut of one-third our taxesl
These questions answer themselves
You would not think of ridding your
self of taxes by such means. And ir
thus answering, you yourself decide
that we should not be governed in oul
vote for or against the saloon by the
consideration that the saloons pay 4
few hundred dollars year into thu
Treasury. Such an argument Is un
worthy an American citizen.
If the saloon cannot stand upon 1t
merits, IL it is stand upon the CLAIM
that it is to be tolerated because it pay
taxes-then it certainly must have n,
redeeming feature.
But it is not true that 1t will pay b
do anything that is wrong or tha
has an evil influence. Benedict Arnol'
q turned traitor TO his country, for gold
but it did not pay. Judas Iscsrios be
trayed the Savior for thirty pieces G
silver. but filled with remorse, he a.
terward went out and hanged himself
n The saloon pays a few hundred do
lars into the treasury, but how muc
does it cost you? During the years W
were without the saloon, the tax ths
was levied for the poor fund. average
l. less than one third, per annum, what
q has cost in the years that we had tt
II saloon. Here Is saving that must
le counted, in this argument. Then thel
"a Ia the fact that for months at tim
70 the Jail was empty, and this saviI
ID must be counted in offsetting the u
nt gathered from the saloon. Then the
DR. was the saving of thousands of dolla
IN of court costs, sheriff's fees, etc., |
CURED in trying cases that were q
Ve result of the liquor traffic Al
of to this the gain from the labor OF M
mr. who quit drinking and become pr
ez ducers in the community; and strike I
al the less amount required TO police t
es city, and your saloon tax is wiped o'
py and the argument in favor of the :
as loon that 1t pays its way, Is shown to
81 utterly a fallacy.
nd But will any honorable man vote
he the saloon because it pays q tax, VIII
a he knows the sorrow it brings, the 8
oe fering, the disgrace. the crime
ss brings upon US? We would not VI
n for the saloon if it would pay all G
m taxes, for We believe every man shol
mr. have a regard for the welfare of thu
ed who are addicted to drink, and for
,e- suffering and want and disgrace Il
N. come upon women and children
av cause of it, and because it has be
.or branded in all countries as an enemy
re law and order, and sobriety and hap
iu- ness.