The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-03-05
ANTI-SALOON LEAGUE.

To the people of Louisiana:
We, the Press Committee of the
Shreveport Saloon League,
acting by instructions of that
body, issue the following address
to the people of our State:
Whereas, the legalized liquor
traffic and the evils associated
Herewith have grown to such
alarming proportions as to threat
en- the stability of society and the
very foundations of our govern
ment, constituting the one dark
cloud which hangs menacingly
over every home, spreading far
and wide the deadly vices of in
temperance, gambling and impur-
ity; resulting as they do in four
fifths of the crime, poverty and
sorrow among our people, who
otherwise would be prosperous
and happy.
And, whereas these evils so
destructive of manhood and wom-
anhood, so corrupting to the adj
ministration of public affairs, and
SO prolific as sources of misery,
find their chief strength and pro-
lection in the open, legalized sa-
loon; which, from its entrenched
position behind the strong arm of
the law, breeds lawlessness, prop
agates immortality, and results in
the deepest shame and dishonor.
And, whereas many otherwise
good citizens have mistaken this
legal privilege as the moral right
to engage In this awful business
for revenue only; and, whereas
our silence in not protesting
against the iniquity of a traffic,
of which our government is a
partner, has given us completely
in all of its terrible fruits; and,
| whereas we believe the time is
now ripe for a forward, agrees
sive, organized move against this
licensed evil; therefore we appeal
to the good people all over the
State, of every class, creed and
| party, to meet at once and unite in
organizing Anti Saloon Leagues
in their respective communities,
to tho end that they may not only
clear their own consciences Of
guilt, but by ceaseless agitation
may drive the saloon evil from
their midst.
Though the habitual drunkard
may not be saved from a drunk
ards, grave, yet by outlawing this
| lawless business and by taking
away the dignity and respecta-
biity it derives from its legal
right to exist, the young men may
be largely shielded from the
temptation daily before their eyes
in the omnipresent bar-room.-
But only by wide spread local or
ganization, centralizing in a State
League, can we hope to make
Roadway against this deeply
rooted evil. Therefore all minis
ters of the gospel and our whole
Christian and moral citizenship,
both men and women, should
stand together in this movement
to abolish the most wicked en-
vironment that ever cursed free
people.
In sending fourth this appeal
from the Shreveport Anti Saloon
League we are reminded that the
campaign against the Lottery,
which resulted in driving it from
our State, began in North Louisi-
ana. May this serve as proph-
ecy of final victory in beginning
this State wide crusade against a
legalized evil which has despoiled
more homes, and broken more
hearts, and wrecked more lives,
and damned more souls than all
other causes combined.
All interested parties are urged
to write at once to A. S. Lutz,
1913 Southern Avenue, Shreve-
port, La, for full instructions
relative to organizing Anti-Saloon
Leagues in their respective COM
munities.
CLAUDE L. JONES,
A. S. LUTZ,
A. L. JOHNSTON,
u. B. CURRIE,
| Committee.