The Mena weekly star., 1907-05-02
W. (. I. U. COLUMN
Mrs. Myrtle Moore, Press supt9 The Saloon-HelI Feeder.

The saloon is the friend of the drunkard, the gambler, the pros- titute, the blasphemer, the pro- faner of Sunday, the corrupt politician, the lawbreaker ot every name. The saloon is the friend of all that is evil for 1t wrecks homes, inflicts society, betrays the state and is the fore most ally of the devil against the church and God.
 Saloon keepers. have you any heart or manhood in your make up? Have you heart that beats for anything but the almighty dollar? Oh, if you have, l beg you to look around and see the terrible havoc you are causing. When will men cease to sell their souls, their eternal interests, their honor among men tor that which perishes with them? If 1t is not possible for us to leglslate the saloon out Of existence, can we not make their business un profitable by proper education of the rising gener ation, thereby compelling them to close? Are saloons needed in any city? Read what Governor Hoch of Kansas says of the revenue from this source and prohibition prosperity: The Revenue Question.
 The revenue from this source is not necessary to the permanent prosperity of any town; 1t is hindrance to it; 1t debauches pub- | lie sentiment, debases public morals, and corrupts official channels; it destroys town pride, one of the first and greatest essentials to town building; 1t makes the saloon the center of political influence and the most potent factor in municipal gov ernment. The devil never in- vented a bigger l.e than that revenue from illegitimate sources is necessary to the financial sue cess of any town or city. Such contention is an insult to any community in Kansas. Wherever this theory finds endorsement by local authorities, poodle and graft and extravaganza follow naturally and inevitably.
 A great many of the leading business men of Kansas City, kas., cherished the delusion that saloons were necessary to the prosperity of that town; but the POO joints m that city have been effectually closed, and yet is is almost the universal testimony that the city has never been so prosperous. Kansas City, Kas.. is the largest city in the state, and l believe is the largest city in the world without an open saloon. There has been a wou- derful revolution among the business men, who are prospering as never before, and who attested their faith in the new and wise police by electing law and or der mayor at the recent city election.
 Ia this great accomplishment too much credit cannot be given to Attorney General c. c. Cole man, to the assistant attorney general MT. c. w. Trickett, and to the presiding judge, Hon. w. G. Holt. In a recent address Mir. Trickett said:
 When 1 first moved upon the dens of vice, two leading bankers, in company with three promi- nent merchants, called upon me to protest against closing the saloons, saying it would ruin business. Not long since these same men returned to my office to apologize for their former re- quest, and stated that it had not only not injured business, but had helped every liue. The bankers informed me that in three months under closed saloons, deposits had increased $500, ,000.
 "The merchants said their business had increased, that col lections were better, and that women were trading with them, presenting their husbands pay cheeks, stating that they had