Rock Island Argus., 1906-04-12
The Resolution From Liquor
Men Suppressing
Dives
AND THE l50-F00T LINE
Both Pending Before the Rock
Island City Coun-
Gil.

Pending before the city council are
two measures pertaining TO the regula'
ton OF saloons in which the people are
much interested. II they We're not SO
naturally they would have been made
so by the continued agitation that has
been going on for some time back over
every proposition that has come up In
any way affecting the liquor traffic.
The saloon question. ii may be said,
has been dragged before the council
not so much, it may with truth be as
serted. by those who are opposed TO
the liquor business in any form, as
by those who have sought to make ii
the scape goat for all the ills that al
fiict humanity, locally speaking, count
ing on IL as an ally on every possible
occasion and seeking ever to be con-
sidered-by the saloon element-as its
wise guardian and unerringsfriend.
But an TO the measures now pend
ing before the city council One of
these relates to the odious adjunct to
the low saloon. known as the dive.
wherein women are harbored. The
suppression of this evil in Rock Island
will prove not only a long stride to-
ward the proper regulation CT the
liquor traffic. but the cutting OF OF one
OF the main sources OF graft. AS i
matter OF fact it should be the policy
OF the council to stamp out of exist
ence once and for all not only every
form OF vice. but primarily that which
exists under cover and from which
graft comes in the way OF "protec-
-. Il
remove the occasion for protection"
When you have accomplished this
much the CRATER will soon starve.
Half the saloon keepers in Rock L.
land have demonstrated that there are
such evils in the business in Rock Is
land by petitioning the council to sup
press them. There can be no better
argument either in support of the fact
that the pactices are INDUCED in or
that they should be stopped. II the
council fails TO heed the prayer of de-
cent saloon keepers to put an end TO
the forms of crime that are creeping
into their business. how can il expect
the saloon keepers to make an effort
to conduct their business legitimately.
saloon regulation is furnished in the
ordinance prescribing the $50 distance
in the location OF any saloon from a
church. This proposed municipal en-
sctment grows out OF the persistent
agitation in which it was sought re-
Gently to involve the council as the
outcome of a controversy between
brewery interests and affecting the 10
cation of single saloon In this con
nection an ordinance was brought be
fore the council, in which the support
OF the clergy wa. evoked. providing
that hereafter no saloon be permitted
within 800 feet OF church. The prop
osition was aimed at one saloon and
its adoption by the council. it was read
lily seen, would simply have affected the
particular saloon against which il was
directed while the remainder of the
saloons OF the city would have contin-
ued unmolested regardless of location.
In view of the misrepresen ntatiOn thar
has been going on. on the subject, II
is proper to- explain that the new or
dinance is to- be of immediate eject
upon every saloon in the city. 1t draws
the line at $50 feet and becomes effec-
tive forthwith. 1t is not discriminating
in tendency or purpose In aSmuch as
there has been SO much discussion OF
the subject. involving not alone studied
misinterpretation OF it's meaning. but
not stopping short OF assailing the mo-