The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1906-06-20
TIE SHANE OF san FRANCISCO
IBy Evanssli., jane. ". zasAaryl

OaA ElouCAoCt Wo1 OHN " eA>
most corrupt cities on the American
continent. It's traffic in beverage
and lust by three thousand licensed
saloons, ten thousand scarlet wo-
men and twenty thousand chippy-
chasers, was simply unspeakable-
a disgrace to the State of Califor-
nia--and a shame TO American
civilization. Now it shoulders in
ruins 1t were base ingratitude
and inexcusable neglect for the
country not 20 respond generously
TO alleviate the suffering and save
the perishing. But is not this also
a good time to ask whether the
Americans are most inconsistent
people? IN
What are the cold factsS A few
hundred persons killed, q few
thousand wounded and many thous-
and are homeless. while property
well insured worth three hundred
million dollars is destroyed. This,
however, is enough to awaken the
nation. Great cities are stirred
Public meetings are held. Dollars
by the million speed on their mis-.
sion Of helpful charity while mil
lions more are devoted to building
more magnificent city on doubt
fal foundation, where formerly over
1hree thousand debauching saloons
which put to shame the immortality
Of the temple Of Belus, each paid
the city of San Francisco a revenue
OF less than one hundred dollars
for the licensed privilege Of de-
stroying its morals, its health and
its reputation. As a student of
sociological conditions gathering
information for books and maya
zines, ] recently visited its main |
saloon, its grOttoes and its taverns.
In some of these we're FIVE hundred |
10 one thousand repronates and |
acknowledgement and wOmen-go-
ing and coming. guggling beer or
engaged in ribaldry while witness
ing obscene PLAYS and debauching |
songs. The vulgarity, Drunkenness
and RIGHTEOUSNESS were disgusting |
and heart-sickening. >uch bac
chanaliaDism as ] saw there was
equal TO that OF Belsbszzar OF. Bah
ylon when God wrote on the wall
Weighed in the balances and
found wanting" Dan. 5:27.
But who cared for the moral
devastation and debaucbery? What
banded themselves to-
eether and gave freely of their
money to correct the appalling !
evils What was done by the San
Examiner, Call or Chron-
icle TO arouse the city, mould public
opinion and drive out the city de-
bsuching saloons? What did the
Mayor or Council do except make
il easy for the saloons and harlots
10 conduct their business uumo-
Tested and every way to the great
detIiment of the city,
America mourns the loss Of FRS
co and pOurs her wealth into the
very lap of luxury to rebuild the
Pride OF the West. But the same
people without defense or plausible
eEcuse license, protect and encour
age in most all municipalities and
scourge of death in the
form Of law sanctioned saloons that
each year kill, debauch and enslave
over five hundred thousand citizens, |
corrupt the very life blood Of the
nation and infict untold physical, |
mental and moral injury upon the
race. For the license saloon system
puts the crown Of poverty upon the
aching brow Of American labor and |
literally squanders or diverts from
wholesome channels of trade mil
lions of dollars that go into saloon
lille to pay for snake juice which |
poisons the body and damns the
soul.