Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-11-26
BEARnING THE LION.


Before you plan TO till an0ther's soil
ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.
BOARDING THE LION.
fudge Mckenzie Cleland of Chicago, who
has become widely known through his success
full administration Of the Pollard pledge parole
to drunkar,is, aroused the interest OF Chicago
saloon keepers to such an extent that they In
vited him TO be guest at the annual banquet o.
the LIQUOR Dealers Protective Association, held
at the Sherman House In that city. The juige'f
address on that occasion, from which we quote
was not calculated to invite further courtesies
from the gentlemen Of "the trade."-Editor
Nobody loves a coward, and everybody
hates a hypocrite, so Pm going to tell
you some plain truths. Pm improving
some. Right after my election saloon
keeper said l wasn't fit to be a judge
anywhere except in Hyde Park, because
never drank a glass of beer in my life
Now | have advanced to such stage
that not only am considered fit to 81,
on saloon-keepers' cases, but you invite
me here to tell you how to run your
business.
A great many persons are prejudiced
against the liquor business. l confess
I'm one of them. / came by it honestly.
NV father was preacher and he taught
me the evils of liquor. When I went on
the bench tried to put that prejudice
away, because / realized that anyone
with a prejudice against any calling or
class of citizens is unfit to sit on the
bench.
People have prejudice against the
saloon to-day, and why9 One reason is
that the liquor business is regarded as
an habitual and persistent violation of
the law. l was delighted when the
president of your association stated that
YOUR organization stood for the preserva-
ton of the law. believe it is the opin-
ion of a large majority of the people
that you are law breakers-not all of
you, but so many that you who do not
break the law are charged with the re-
sponsibility of it by popular verdict.
1t is my conviction that the members
of this association ought to prosecute to
the end the men who violate the law.
| am trying, as you know, by the parole
system, to restore drunkards and loafers
to their families. | was told by one sa-
with whom had remon-
strated for selling liquor to an inebriate
"But 1 can't take the time to find out
a man is an habitual drunkard
or not. Besides, if | am arrested, the
will defend me-" (Cries of
"No, No!") If that is not true, you
gentlemen ought to let the public know
it. The people believe this association
protects the saloon keeper in this course.
1t would be a shame to you to protect
men who violate the law.
You have large property interests.
You have children who are attending the
public schools, as my children are.
Whether they will obey or defy the law
depends on the example you set before
them.
In your business, gentlemen, you are
dealing with edged tools. There may be
those who can drink without harm to
but there are many who, by
their appetite for drink, bring untold
misery on themselves or their families.
There is lawyer in my court who
drinks when he feels like it, a good fell
low, and asked him this morning what
l would say to you gentlemen here to-
night. He said, "Tell them that ninety
per cent of the cases of this court are
due to whiskey. If there we're no sa-
looms, this court would be without bust
ness. Union Signal.
"THE PENALTY WILL FALL UPON HIM.
SELF"
1t scarcely seems possible that any
one can still be found to believe that the
man who INDUCES in stong drink Injuries
only himself; and yet that outworn fall
lacy is still put forward. A recent
liquor paper deplores the present "strong
tendency to meddlesome coercive laws
as subversive of liberty. "The essence
of real liberty" says this champion of
freedom, sis that every adult and sane
man should have the right to pursue his
own life and crafty his own tastes with
out molestation, provided he does not
injure his neighbors, and provided he
fulfils the duties which the state exacts
from its citizens. If, under these con-
ditions, he mismanages his life, the re-
sponsibility and the penalty will fall
upon himself" 1.-THE italics are ours.
Not to mention the selfshness of such
an ideal of liberty, its impossibility OF
fulfilment is glaringly apparent.
In local newspaper of almost the
same date as that of the liquor organ al
ready quoted from, is printed a letter
from heartbroken mother, whose son.
while crazed by drink, bought at the
open saloon, shot and killed his neigh
Dor and friend. For this crime he was
executed, at the age of twenty-five.
"He was my only support in my declin.
ing years." writes the poor mother. 81
appeal to the good people o.
to remember on the coming election day
the cause of my sad bereavement"
The penalty fell upon himself'-yes.
1t fell also upon his mother, and upon
his neighbor and friend, and upon all
who loved him. 1t fell too-if it be not
too heartless to name financial loss In
the same sentence with the ruin of a
young life-upon the town, which doubt
less paid in the cost of this one boys
trial, more than it gained from the sa-
loon that entrapped him.
A drunken young man drove an auto
mobile headlong into a crowd OF persons
waiting for their car. There was no
warning, no way of escape. Women and
men were run down and frightfully in
jured. Upon the young man fell the
penalty of arrest and fines and disgrace.
The much heavier penalty was borne by
his innocent victims. Upon the saloon
that was really responsible fell no penal
ty at alas yet.
But it is needless to multiply instances
in proof of the truth that mo man liveth
to himself" So long as the saloon
exists, no one can be so well protected
from it as to be sure of safety.-Union
Signal.
"No MONEY IN IT."