Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-04-01

fact, thev are the financial men behind
the business. and their profits are
determined by the fact whether the
business is success or failure. The
result of this has been to place the
business cot rely upon money making
basis, and there are no results to be
feared except the financial loss which
might result by conducting the busi-
ness The man that runs saloon
must make good by furnishing his
principal, the brewer or the wholesale
liquor dealer, with the profits. This
has resulted In increasing the number
of our saloons and very materially
discrediting the business to every
observing citizen. He who may have
watched the course of this class of
saloon can with but very little
effort observe the additional discredit-
ing and demoralizing influences which
eminate from this kind of place. The
result is that outside business interest
with absolutely no respect for the well
fare. the success the happiness and
the good of our local communities are
forcing into our very presence saloons
for no purpose except the almighty
dollar that is in it. They are willing
to drain our cities and villages of our
money and leave in its place nothing
but ruin and misery. For one / am
opposed to further continuing in Gra-
tiot county this species of carpet
bagism. 1t is time that we took the
welfare of our own county into our
own hands and drive from it the men
who for money consideration are
willing to beggar and destroy us.
The last legislature at the behest of
the same class of men passed law
permitting the acceptance of saloon
bonds by outside surety companies.
But a step or two further and our
local people will have nothing what
ever to say about the manner and
method of conducting the saloon busi-
ness in our rural counties / am dis
gusted with this tendency of the liquor
interests and / propose to do what
little | can do to drive their henchman
from the county and make them with
draw their furniture and fixtures and
stocks closer TO themselves where its
evils can be cared for by their own
comm unities
Second-This practice which l have
referred to has in very general way
made he proprietors of our saloons mot
however in all cases. men of less re-
sponsibility and character and stand
ing. 1t has placed in our rural J.
dangerous business, undesirable and
dangerous proprietors. This has led
to abuses which have not heretofore
in such a marked degree made the
business a menace to the moral atmos-
pbere of our rural cities and villages
/ cannot before this moral and inteIl-
ectual audience enumerate some of
the abuses which have in many in
stances characterized this class of
places in this county. Suffice.it to
say that many of this class of saloons
have become odious to the nostrils of
every decent and respectable person.
can see no way to so effectively
wipe out the evils surrounding this
kind of saloon as to withhold from
Ii license to do business in our
midst.
Third-A great tidal wave has dur
ing the past six wears swept over
this country, demanding prohjbiticn
and reform in liquor traffic. In my
opinion, in no community is it more
marked than in Gratiot county. Six
years ago. the citizens of Alma and
pritcularly the business men were
quite unanimous in opposing prohi-
bition or local option. If l misjudge
not the temper of our people, the
sentiment Is now pronounced in
favor of 1t. If / mistake not, l
believe 1t would have been impossible
to have gathered together in the
cause of temperance one quarter of
the people that are before me this
hour, six years ago. These are all
tendencies for the good which il
seems to me. no right-minded citi-
zen can afford to hinder or arrest
In fact. it seems to me that every
right-minded person should on the
other hand, encourage and promote
IL.
Fourth-On account of this arising,
sentiment against the liquor traffic.
l now believe it will be possible 10
enforce local option in Gratiot county
do not say that IL will be enforced
effectively. This is more than the most
sanguine can expect. but 1 do believe
that with the existing public SEMI
ment in favor of prohibition that the
evils of intemperance will be mater
tally lessened in Graiot county and so
believing. am unwilling to withhold
my support from this adoption.
Fifth believe not as the result.
however, of any conference with any
one upon the subject, from my know
ledge to the character of the men who
are holding and will hold official
positionsin the judicial and executive