Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1903-11-13
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
THERE SHOULD BE A NEED
FOR EVERY BUSINESS
Is There ANY For the Saloon and
Could it Not be Dispensed
With to the Benefit Of
the Community

~ 80" NAAstaA
With to the Benefit Of
the Community
The proof which any business
must give of its right to live is that
a legitimate demand by the people
for what it produces has brought it
into existence and contributed to its
growth. The business that can not
bring this proof is either wasting
the peoples substance or is a natural
enemy to their best interest. To
put it in a shorter way, an industry
has q right to the respect and pro-
lection Of the law only when a need
has created it. Not mere demand,
but need, must create supply. When
we bring the liquor traffic before
this judgement bar it stands con-
dsmned.
First, take the milling business.
The need of the people for cheaper
and better breadstuffs has built the
-four mills of the country. This
need in turn has created demand
for a greater number of mills to
grind the wheat. Suppose that every
flour mill in the United States should
burn down today. A cry would go
up all over the land. Flour mills
would spring up again as by magic.
Why2 Because bread is a necessity
and wheat must be ground. In this
case the need has created the busi-
ness. This gives the mill the right
to stand as a friend to mnn.
Again, take the shoe industry.
We must have shoes. Every winter
would bring intense suffering, and
even death, to thousands, if people
we're compelled to go with naked
feet. Burn down every shoe factory
and millions of bleeding feet would
cry out in mute appeal for protec-
ton. The shoe man, then, has built
his factory to meet real need, and
so he has a natural and legitimate
place in society.
Further, consider the mining of
COAL The frantic cry of half.
frozen people as result of the
anthracite coal strike is proof enough
that coal is a necessity.
Burn out every shaft and flood
every mine and thousands OF facto-
ries and homes would dig into the
earth in a night. WhyP Because
fuel is a necessity. In this case,
also, 1t was need that digged the
coal mine. This stands the test and
must remain to bless mankind. And
Gods power is abroad to make
strong the arm and true the heart of
the man who digs and strikes and
blasts at the peril of his life for She
comfort and happiness of his
brother.
Can the traffic in liquor prove its
right to live by this argument7 Let
as see. It is plain that this business
exists and expands, not by meeting
a need, but by creating an abortive,
unnatural craving for that which
brings only mildew and death. Need
had no place here. It was the cold
metallic fist of calculating greed
that built the distiuery and tile
brewery, and only when life is dis
torted and prostrated can it enlarge
itself. It reverses the order of
legitimate barter and trade. 1t
lives and grows fat, not upon merit,
but by bribery. It feeds only the
craving of a hellish mania The peo-
pie live not by or through it, but in
spite of 1t. Raze every brewery and
distillery to the ground and what
would be the result2 No real need
or comfort or opportunity would be
taken from the people. On the
other hand, comforts and oppor-
tunity and power and happiness
would be multiplied a thousand fold.
The liquor traffic is not an industry,
but a criminal. It has not one
natural right-not one,
Could this prayer Of ours for the
determination Of the saloon but be a
fact-a reality-what a day it would
be The bells would peal from thou
sands Of church spires. Whistles
would blow long and loud and
cannon roar in triumph. Multitudes
Of people would crowd the streets
with songs Of thanksgiving upon
their lips. Gray haired fathers and
mothers, bent low with grief and
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Do-snft Rernacf Ola aoe