The Rice belt journal., 1906-06-15
W. c. T. U. COLUMN.

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a precautionary measure, met with the
heartiest approval. No need then to
get signatures and influence; no need
then to petition authorities to close up
these death.dealing places; no use for
men to object and to cry out in favor
of personal liberty. That summary
order, Break open every door and
destroy every particle of liquor in the
city, was obeyed to the letter, and
the city which has had the reputation
of being the widest open in the nation,
Sunday and all days, becomes for the
time the freest from this taint. This
is what We women are striving for; to
put the drink out of the way, not wait
ing for calanities, or times of great
stress and excitement, but as safe
guard to life and home and for the
public good. When all men realize
that what is best at such times as these
is better for all times, to keep men s
brains clear and their nerves steady?
The National Liquor Dealers AS
SOciatiOn in session June 9th at Lou
isville, Kentucky, indorsed temperance
work as follows:
'"The white ribbon movement, the
blue ribbon movement, the prohibition
movement, and the anti-saloon move
ment were causes for protests on the
part of good men and women against
two of the greatest evils, drunkenness
and those saloons which are conducted
in disreputable manner or else in
such way as to demOralize rather
than to elevate those who patronize
them, and we, the delegates to this
convention of the wine and spirits
trade, desire to express our entire
sympathy with efforts that have been
put forth to exterminate the evils and
our willingness to lend corporation
and assistance.
1--WE believe that wines and spirits
are blessings per Sc, intended by an
all-wiSe Providence to bring health
and happiness to mankind.
1--WE believe that the legal manufac-
ture and sale of wines and spirits is
an honorable trade and one that
should be respected by society and by
the laws.
"We believe that the saloon can
and should be SO conducted that men
would not hesitate to visit them ac.
companied by their wives and children,
and that the atmosphere of such places
should be bene fcial to both mind and
body"
Well, well, this sounds trifle
strange coming from men who live by
the sale Of intOXicantS. But We have
always believed that liquor dealers
would gladly avert the ruin caused by
their business, providing they could
do so and not affect their bank ac.
counts. Certainly no one could be so
utterly bad as to rejoice in the misery
caused by drink and deliberately plan
to make more.
But the devil is an adept in binding
us and success in business" is one of
the ott-used films with which he blurs
our spiritual slght--and this not alone
in the liquor business.
We wonder it their is a man on
earth who can truthfully say that a
saloon has ever elevated" him. On
the other hand millions can testify
that the saloon has dragged them
down.
In the DAYS of our grandparents
wine and spirits were believed to be
blessings and were freely used.
But the actual factor did not bear
out that belief and from scientific
knowledge of the physiological effect
OF alcohol we learned why they were
curses instead OF blessings.
Notice how they emphasize the''le-
gal manufacture and sale" The le-
gality of the business is all the respec-
liability there is left in it and it is be-
coming less and less legal every day
thru law, elections and court decisions
We opine that its quasi respectability
is doomed to decrease until it is event
uallv 0utlawed.
And as to the belief that saloons
could be beneficial places for all mem
bers of the family to gather. The
following item on "The Untransform.
able Saloon" is convincing:
THE UNTRANSFORMABI.E SALOON.