Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-02-20
AN APOLOGY FOR SALOONS.

create prejudice against the present
administration of this city's affairs,
but it's effect is to show the personal
vindictiveness of the editor of the
Tribune towards Mr.. Tallman and
others. The bowling over of Mr..
Lawson's pet schemes of personal ag-
grandizement and his reputation by
the people when seeking political pre-
ferment for selfish ends have so filled
his soul with gall and bitterness that
he has to unburden himself in the
slightest provocation.
1t is probably true that the city of
Willmar, like every other community
in this broad land, has its wrong do
ers, it's violaters of moral and stat
utory laws; but this paper questions
whether the conditions are worse now
than they were under the blind pig re-
gime, and would want better testimony
than that of professional blind pig
detective to change it's views. Under
the blind pig administration gambling
houses Hourished-they have been
closed up under the present admins
tration. Blind pigs were as thick as
heas in the old days, despite the siren
uous endeavors to rid the city of them.
The number now is certainly limited,
and possibly the action at the present
term of court will rid the city of it's
last blind pig. The records show that
disorderly houses were known in blind
pig days. If there are any here now,
the administration will be glad of evil
dence no doubt that will enable it to
close them out. AS to the violations,
Or alleged violations, of law by one
of the saloon keepers, the administra-
ton should deal with it to the limit
permitted by law, and to this end it
will be found, in the opinion of this
paper. that the council will be unani-
nous. 1t is a matter worthy of note
that the present members of the city
council while differing as to the best
methods of handling the liquor ques-
ton, have worked together in practic-
ally perfect harmony on all other mat
tiers affecting the city's welfare, and
their record in reducing taxation and
promoting public Improvements and
betterment of streets and sidewalks is
to be commended.
The bitter and vindictive attacks of
the Tribune against Mr.. Tallman and
his associates are not warranted by
fair criticism. Take the case of Mr..
Tallman, as an example. What has
he done to warrant such attacks? He
has pronounced views on public ques-
tions and matters of public policy and
comes out squarely in the open and
fights for them. Nobody ever accused
him of hiding behind anybody or any
thing, of being afraid to stand by his
opinions, or OF failing to accept defeat
or victory with equal equanimity. He
was placed in his present posi- ion by
an overwhelming vote of his constit-
uency and is attempting to help carry
out the opinions of majority of the
voters of the city as expressed at the
polls.
Should that opinion be reversed at
the coming election, the Tribune will
find that no member of the new cOun-
Gil will be more earnest than Mr.. Tall
man in respecting and attempting to
enforce the will of the people.
Why not try fair criticism for once,
Mr.. Lawson? Forget your own little
petty grievances and disappointment
for time and the wor. d will look bet
ter and brighter to you. This contin-
ual nursing of personal i'll will is in
every way bad-unworthy of a SELF
respecting American Citizen.-Will-
mar Gazette. 80 1 T..
We reproduce the above in
order that our readers may Judge
for themselves as to the attitude
of the saloon apologists of this
city.
MORE THAN ANY OTHER
ONE MAN, Mr.. Tallman is re-
sponsible for the present saloon
regime. Now, if the new policy
is such a transcendant success,
why abuse a poor fellow editor
with such language as the above
for giving the credit to the prop
er party? If the present saloon
policy is anybody's policy, it is
Tallman's. Is the Gazette so
ashamed of it, that it considers it
a vindictive act to connect anyone
within personally?
The TRIBUNE has always con.
tended that one. of the chief evils
of the licensed saloons is the in
fuence which they come to WELD
il the admins tration Of the city
government. We have here an
Illustration Of this truth in the
attitude Of the ogists. for the
saloons right now at Willmar. .
The Gazette 8 idea of . blind