Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1902-02-13
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.

Some Pleas For the Saloon - The Claim
That 1t is the Poor Mans Club is q
GaDangsrous Lie-Too Much Frequented
by the Young.
The following is from an article entitled
ne Saloons OF Plttsburg," contributed
to the Brotherhood Star by the Rev. Dr.
Fisher:
.The saloon is menace to good gov
ernment, and the avowed and open en-
emy of the church and the home. 1t has
justly brought down upon its own head
the opprobrium of all good citizens, and
yet there are some who look upon it as a
necessary evil and lamely attempt it's de-
Tense on grounds of so-called expediency.l
That the saloon furnishes a CHEEKY and
bright retreat from the cares OF the day,
and stands IN strong contrast to the dingy
office, or the dirty and hot mill or factory,
and Is to the young man place of socia.
b1lty and entertainment is conceded by
many OF its enemies, and by some writers
it has been called The Poor Mans Club
Ihls claim contains only part of the truth
and is therefore a dangerous lie
The brilliantly lighted room, the daz-
Zhng mirrors and bar fixtures which are
usually present in saloons claiming any
degree OF respectabllty are always men
toned, but the bare floors covered with
filthy sawdust, the vile pictures which
hang upon the walls and the foul air laden
with ooscenlty and profanity are usually
omitted in singing the praises of the sa-
LOOM. Nor is the gambling annex, which
so, often forms, an important part of the
saloon, generally advertised The Poor
Mans Club sophistry does not prove that
the mans club is any less menace to
tn IN OF Pittsburg than is the
RI
cessity for the accommo-
do olic which is heard annu-
all Sc court, and is recognized
by Ire in making laws provid-
il ansing of this evil, ostensi-
bl it, but really giving it an air
Of Ity, and the claim that it is
al source OF revenue to the
ST ounty are both very transpar-
EN- ill not go down with the stu
de- iltical economy.
at the saloon does for the pub
the temperance house cannot do,
' and only bad, and the expense en-
lpon the honest taxpayer as the re-
If the saloon is far in excess of the
iue received.
he suggestion that the saloon is a
,titute for the speall-easy, the opium
or the brothel is usually the last ditch
which the interested defender of the sa-
on takes stand.
"A visit to the saloons of Pittsburg dur
ing the evening hours especially will reveal
the fact that far too large portion of the
/ young men OF this city so there for amuse-
ment. This we claim is not entirely due
10 lack OF better places. we have not
heard of the reading rooms, parlors Of
gymnasiums of the Y. NJ C. A., and sim,
liar places of resort being overcrowded;! ;!
nor do we believe it fair to charge it to-
the natural depravity of young men who
find 1T easy to stray from the path of pur-
ity and temperance. Let us rather ask if
the real cause of danger does not lie in
the cloak OF respectabity assumed by
reason of its legal status and partnership
with the State, and also too often on ac-
count of the patronage by good people of
| the restaurant with a saloon annex.
The writer believes that all the much
talked-of substitute for the saloon will not
meet the issue successfully SO long as the
saloon exists as a strong competitor. Tear
off the mask and let this agency of Satan
fall, as fall it surely will by its own weight
of corruption.
"Let the State wash its hands of the
whole business and no so-called 'sumptu-
ary' laws will be necessary.
"When the saloon is outlawed it can be
treated as nuisance and soon abolished"