The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-12-22

suasive bribe, but the people rejected
this proffer OF the Lottery.
At that time, as now, there were men
who favored the Lottery and its bribe
for the money consideration only. All
the principles Of good conduct were
mnimized and derided for the sake OF
the dollar
If class of the peopl whose stand
ard of worth is measured by the dollar,
favored the Lottery, a majority rose in
opposition and swiped the breeder OF
crime from existence.
The woeful disaster and ruin which
were prophesied by the Lotteryites did
not materialze. With the defeat Of the
Lottery was eliminated power which
had dominated the politics of the State.
After the Lottery had been destroyed,
young men with aspirations of public
life breathed with some degree of free
dom. 1t was not necessary for men,
seeking office, to yield obedience to the
mandates of the Lottery or to incur in
evitable defeat.
And from an economic view the de-
feat of the Lottery did not involve the
State in pauperism. The record of inn
provement is evidenced by the number
of public schools which have been ere
|ated and are being maintained by the
people without the Lottery's bribe. The
charitable institutions in f1ourishing con-
ditions, give the lie to the pretenses of
the Lottery. The levees have been bet
tered and are being maintained without
the money of the Lottery which polluted
the State; and today the State is in a
better condition than it could have been
had the people yielded to the bribe of this
accursed power whose very remem-
brance is still nauseating to self-respect-
ing people.
In sense the saloon today is exer-
cising the same evil influence in politics.
At the last mayors election all the
saloons, excepting one, were on the side
of one of the candidates for mayor
The saloons combined in their efforts to
elect a majority of the Council. The
saloon was all powerful in debating the
election of chief of police. 1t had the
power to dominate over many questions
affecting the municipality 1t is dan
gerous factor in Shreveport's welfare.
whose property is menaced by an ele-
ment who have disregarded all laws
and entailed punishment, as far as pos
sble, on those who have incurred their
uispleasure.
SO strong is the power CT the saloon
today that there are men, candidates for
office, who dare not express their views
on this issue of prohibition. In this city
there are men, asprants and candidates
for office. who will not venture on the
exercise Of their inalienable rights OF
citizenship, unless they have the sane
ton and the approval of the saloon. SO
dangerous has become this power that
1t must be destroyed. To say that this
power can be regulated, and that it will
yield obedience to the law is disproved
by its fragrant opposition in the past
AS was the Lottery, so is the saloon a
menace to the manhood of the State and
it is a pity that in its behalf men are
pleading for its existence for revenue
only.
This pretense is, apparently, the only
apology or explanation for its perpetu-
alton.
When the saloon is eliminated, as it
must and will be, the city, as forecasted,
will not be involved in disaster or ruin.
The money which is now absorbed from
the saloon for the sale of intoxicants
which rob men of their reason. which
leads to the increase of crime and Grim
inals, which swells the number of wild
ows and orphans, which stimulates pau
perlsm and degradation, will be spent
in the comforts and the betterment of
thss good wives, and the children, who
are the victims indirectly of the saloon
When the saloon is swiped, as was the
Louisiana Lottery, men aspiring for of
flee will not be compelled to subscribe
to the dictates of the saloon. This COM
munity will become free from all con-