The Mena weekly star., 1907-12-05


 betsy Ross and the origin of our nag IS happily familiar as our na. eional hymn itself in homes and scnools throughout the land On rlag Day every school room echoes With patriotic singing, recitations oraelons, and speeches, telling the inspiring story of the making of our flag. Our flag freedom,means more than any other flag, It embodies the purposes and history of the government itself. It records the deeds of it's defenders on land and on sea. It attests the struggles of our army and the valor of our citi. zens In all the wars of our grand Republic. It expresses the will of a tree people and proclaims that they are supreme and acknowledge no other earthly authority but them selves. When the flag flies from vantage points and is publicly dis played in lavish profusion, and while the story of its origin and meaning IS constantly impressed on the plas- tic minds of growing future citizens. there will be no danger that this grand republic will pass away or that the principles which gave it birth be forgotten.
 OUTLOOK ENCOURAGING. We thank God for the attitude of public opinion as manifested in the November elections. On Tuesday, November 5, elections were held in thirteen states. Local conditions were an important factor in deter mining results. But certainly they were not elections favorable to graft and mercenary politics and the liquor traffic. Mississippi elected a pro- nounced prohibitionist for governor. Independent citizenship was dis played in San Francisco which has been, perhaps, more completely under the control of corruption than any other city in the Union until within the past year. She reelected Hon. E. R. Taylor, the reform mayor, and District Attorney Langdon, who made possible the conviction of the grafters of that city. The anti mormon ticket won decided victory in Salt Lake City.
 THE SALOON MUST GO.
 We thank God for the attitude of public opinion toward the saloon. No other reform is today making such rapid progress as the cause of temperance. The saloon is the most audacious lawbreaker of the age. What is it that breaks up the home and causes children to live in the shadow of great fear. and wives to work in hopeless dispair while a great giant hand holds fast their bleeding hearts?-the saloon.
 The victims of the rum traffic are dying at the rate of one hundred thousand every year. They are dy- ing under the starlight, under the gaslight, at highest noon, at dark est midnight. If you were to gather together all of the victims of the liquor traffic in one year for the purpose of forming funeral posses sion and begin to form the line in the city of Chicago, place each coffin in hearse, give to each hearse the space usually allotted in funeral possession, the vanguard would wind it's way across the states of Illinois. Indiana, New York and into the great metropolis, while as yet the rear-guard had not left the city of Chicago. It makes our blood run cold to think that the saloon dictates to political parties who shall be nominated and elected to office, thus enabling the liquor traffic to secure the passage of laws which are an tagonistic to the good of the people.
 But what of the present outlook? The opposition against the saloon is growing stronger and stronger every day. The attitude of science, industry, capital, labor, business economies, education, religion, jour nalism, literature and general public sentiment, all prophecy the over throw of the liquor traffic in the near future.
 Oklahoma, with statewide prohibl- tion. is truly star of first magni- tude. She has taken her place on the deep blue field of Old Glory and is today reflecting her brilliancy on her sister states, inspiring them to renewed effort against the saloon. God hasten the day when the people of Arkansas will rise up as one man and bury king alcohol so deep that he can never be resurrected.