Evening journal., 1907-10-29
ANTI-LTCENSE NOTES
THE PEOPLE versus THE SALOON

have seemed we'll satisfied with the
portion left them by the liquor trade.
The merchants OF this State are now
invited con November FIRTH TO take
seats at the first table and help them
selves to better portions an around.
Mr.. Business Man viii you accept the
invitation? As a plain business
proposition, would you rather sup
ply the necessities of hfty families
of the most liberal spenders. the
working classes, who pay cash for
their purchases as a rule. or do YOU
prefer 10 get q portion of one LIQUOR
dealers trade and then call several times
at his saloon to collect your bill. setting
the drinks up TO the crowd there as
sembled each time You call? The sa-
loon men In their worldly wisdom
shrewdly ask you to vote FOR
LICENSE and let them remain IN their
seats enjoying the good things at the
first table. but are you so foolish as
TO do their bidding and thus vote your
self to permanent seat at the second
table?
The working-men OF this community
cannot spend their money for intoxi-
eating liquors and at tho same time
have enough to pay their rent bills,
their meat bills. their shoes bills. their
coal bills, their dry goods bills, their
house furnishing bills and AN other
bills for the necessaries of life. All
these legitimate merchants are request
ed by the liquor trade 20 stand to one
side and allow the liquor dealers the
special privilege OF getting the first
share from the working mans wages
al o A..
fortunate enough to have any. may go
unpaid for all the liquor dealers care
The liquor dealers demand that their
share Of over a half million dollars be
first taken out Of the working s.
wages of this community and the small
balance. If there happens to be any
left. the merchants are welcome to Sc
cure, provided they can get il If there
is merchant in this city, calling him
self capable business man, who cam
not see through this shrewd scheme
of the liquor dealers. he must be very
dull indeed
If this seven and a half millions Of
dollars taken out Of the working mems
/ pockets by the liquor trade were TO be
distributed equitably among the diff
farent tradesmen of this city. Is Il not
clear TO every one that IL would mater
/ Tally help business OF an kinds and all
I business conditions as we'll. such as
prompt collections Of bills. the payment
Of rents. etc.2 Men would be able to
lpay their bills without asking credit;
thousands of women, wives OF work
men, who now have little or nothing to
spend IN the merchants stores. would
/ be amply provided with funds and as
they are the largest purchasers in any
community. mostly buying here at home
and do not as a rule first stop at the
saloons TO spend their money as soon
as they get II, business Of an kinds
could not help but be materially Inn
lproved.
The liquor dealer and his family
spend only what one family may need
for their necessities besides their lux
uries and amusements. II IS fair to
lpresume that every liquor dealer has
at least fifty regular customers and the
live merchant can readily see that these
fifty families are compelled 10 get
along with the most meagre expendi-
lures. while the one family of the liquor
dealer is probably q profuse spender.
iIf the conditions We're reversed and the
fifty families of the middle classes
were receiving and spending all the
learning power OF the workngmen of
this community with the merchants I'm
/ this city, as they usually do. instead of
the one saloon keeper, is it not clear
TO even the dullest merchant that he
would be supplying the needs and lux
uries Of fifty families, whereas now he
! is only supplying part of the needs Of
the one prosperous liquor dealer who
many times. as is well gnown, spends
the greater part OF his money in the
larger cities for costly clothing. sup
piles. amusoments ard pleasure eXcur-
sions? II each saloon represent and
/ diminishes the purchasing power of
lhfty families, then the lS6 saloons in
/ Wilmington are diminishing the pur-
chasing power Of $500 families.
/ In many cases the families Of the
middle and poorer classes are denied
even the necessities of life. because of
the spendthrift habits of the wage earn
er, who rs constantly paying tribute to
lihe liquor traffic and usually settles his
score with the tavern keeper first, as
soon as he receives his pay
BY voting AGAINST LICENSE. the
great drain Of the community may be
stopped and the merchants Of this city
would be voting to distribute among
ANNUALLY more than they now receive
which is being flched from the pockets
lof the wage earners and din erted TO the
pockets OF the liquor dealers.
Mr.. Merchant can't you be as wise te
your own interests as the liquor dealer
is to his interest?
The liquor dealer is consistent, al
least. He gives and works and votes
FOR THE LIQUOR DEALER ever,
time. He even has the effrontery just
now to ask you, Mr.. Merchant, TO for
get yourself and your interests to work
and vote for him, too.
WILL you BE FOOL ENOUGH
TO DO lT2
On November 5th you can have your
say Vote early in the morning ano
vote wisely. II may be your only op-