Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-04-11

in the common welfare and especially
on the part Of those who are attempt
ing to legislate with reference to the
matter; and
w -4ereas, practically every meas
ure so far advanced upon the subject
has entirely overlooked the tremen-
dous effect of economic condition up
on the working class; the poor wages,
the long hours, the unsanitary and
physically depressing conditions in
,ne places of employment, the cheap
aduiterated food, and, above all the
housing of the working class in I'M
healthy, cherries, comfortless how
els; and
Whereas, these conditions taken
together constitute, according to all
scinetifc students of the subject, the
most constant and powerful influence
in creating and extending the evils OF
intemperance; and
Whereas, it has been proved that
where these conditions have been
bettered by the increase in wages
shortening of hours and Improvement
of conditions of labor, intemperance
and the evil of the saloon have been
lessened in that proportion; and
Saloon a Social Fixture.
Whereas, under the present eco
nomic conditions it is admitted and
emphasized by every scientific and
legislative investigation made that
the saloon serves a very important
and vital social function in our pres
ent society, especially in the cities
by offering TO the working class a
center of sOciabiIty, Of warmth and
cheer, of music and games, where they
may read the papers and join in dis,
cussiOns, where they may even secure
Tree food and some of the conven
fences denied them in their homes all
at a price within their reach; and
Whereas, this social function con,
stitutes an absolute necessary and a
positive right of the common people
which can not and ought not to be
destroyed until either the municipal
Iity or the state shall find some way
of separating this function from the
private control of the saloon and es,
tablishing other centers of social life
and amusement for the people that
shall be in every way equal to and il
possible superior in value and attrac
tiYeneSS; and
Whereas, it is conceded that the
aduletration of liquors and the use OF
strongly alcoholic drinks constitute
the most serious evil of the liquor
traffic; and
Mistaken Remedies.
Whereas, several methods of deal
ing with the liquor traffic are being
urged in different directions, all of
which fail in one or another respect
to go to the root of the matter,-fOr
example the public ownership and
control of the wholesale and manu-
featuring part of the business by the
government in Switzerland fails to
properly regulate the retailing OF
liquor, thus leaving the evil effects Of
private management at that point; or
again, the state dispensary system in
South Carolina which is urged by
some provided that the 1884 officials of
the system in that state should all be
appointed, thus creating a most dan
gerous political machine in cOnnec-
ton with one of the most dangerous
mOnOpOIies; or again the Gothenburg
system of Norway and Sweden pro
vides for the assumption of the retail
or distributing business of the saloon
by private companies in itself is OBJ
jectiOnable and besides leaves the
wholesale and manufacturing part of
the business in the hands of a great
monopoly whose evil influence is con-
stantly operating against the good
purposes of the system, therefore, be
it
Resolved, by the assembly, the SEN
ate cOncurring, That a special COM
mittee consisting of two senators ap-
pointed by the president of the SEN
ate, and three assemblymen appointed
by the speaker of the house, shall be
selected for the purpose of Investigate
ing all the different forms of public
ownership and regulation that will be
best adapted to the social conditions
and needs of the people of our state. -