Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-30

tity Of our home or the usefulness OF
our citizenship. No more potent ele-
ment in the production of lawlessness
can be found than the saloon. 1t has
no regard for home life, virtue, lib
erty or law. The divorce evil gravi-
tates from the saloon and it's allies
prostitution and the brothel. Drunken
ness and lewdness are as much akin
today as in the days of Lot. Now
they have their common father-the
saloon.
We excuse the existence OF this evil
on the ground of its revenue, which
we receive. Locally we receive $500
annually and for the police force alone
we pay s6,4S0. IF it be true, as said. on
good authority, that the saloon Is re-
sponsible for IS per cent OF the paup-
erism. crime and insanity that curses
every community. we pay more than
half that amount to simply preserve
order among the DRINKS that are
made. Add to that the cost of trial
feeding, relieving of pauperized, caring
for the insane and orphans, and the
balance becomes a mere pittance. One
OF the most farcical things / can con-
ceive of is the mayor of city, who
was elected on a "wide-open" policy
and under whose administration
drunkenness and prostitution have
grown arrogant and defiant, and who
is supported by the saloons and
'brothels alike, standing up and well
coming, as the city's representative
the Associated Charities Of the state
of Iowa. In league with the devil
that makes paupers and welcoming
the institution that is made necessary
by this pauperization, to care for the
children of his partner. God makes us
blush at such a state Of things.
Second, the spirit of gambling which
is so apparent in our American life to-.
day. 1t permeates every grade of soci-
ETY.. In the Independent Of November
is is an article on "The Smart Set In
Winter" (by one Of them) which re-
veals conditions in the life of our -four
hundred" that should make every citi-
zen stop in wonder and amazement.
The hostess Of the week end party.
meeting the expenses of her hospitality
at the gaming table, set up in her own
home, and having as her victims the
objects of her bountful entertaining,
and the game by which they are "held
up" for such it really becomes, bridge
whist The winnings and losings in
these parties of ia shion are thousands.
The same spirit pervades commercial
life today, ard calls for serious consid-
Grafton. The CRATER and boodler are
but creatures of the same kind playing
their game In different place.
The cry that has gone Up all over
the land against the betting that has
disgraced high schools, colleges and
universities this fall has been wrung
from the hearts Of our indignant people
who have seen this spirit take hold OF
its boys and girls and make those with
brightest promise become common
gamblers. Better no sport than sport
that debauches.
The third thing for which we need
to stand is the Christian Sabbath. NO
nation can for a very great length OF
timr osper and grow which disre-
gar.s Christian institutions. The
wrecks of nations who were once the
mighty forces in the worlds progress
that have gone out are those where re-
ligion was secularized, where things
seen were more sought after than
things not, and where pleasure was en-
throned as the chief deity. The might
lest factor in our civiliza ton is Chris
tianity, and Its chief hulwark is its day
Of rest and worship When this is sur
rendered our whole national, social and
religious framework Is undermined and
must gradually decay.
God give US grace to stand for our
heritage, thanking Him for it and CIV
ing ourselves for its perpetuation.
After the closing hymn by the choir
Rev. Merle N. Smith, of the Methodist
church. pronounced the benediction.
The Thanksgiving collection, which
goes to th. Inter-Church Society OF
the city, amounted to an even $27.