The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-06-20
SOMEBODY HIT.

1t is very evident from the action of various
societies and leagues affiliated with the liquor bust
ness that that business has felt the effect of the
persistent efforts of the ants. 1t is interesting to
read in the circular of the National Model License
league what dire results will follow the abolition of
the saloon business and then be assured by the
same authority that the liquor traffic cannot be
abolished as long as the majority of the people
want to drink liquor and have the price. Among
those dire things in prospect is the threatened de-
struction of personal liberty, of our financial
strength and of the sanity of the people if this
prohibition or temperance movement is permitted
to go on unchecked 1t is enumerated that more
than $3,000O00000 worth of property devoted to the
production of liquor will be rendered valueless;
that than million and women will be
thrown out of work that thousands of firms will so
broke that fanatics will occupy the legislative
| chambers of the nation, and whole lot of other
fearful results will follow the destruction of the
saloon. Then we are assured that such things can
not come to pass, because the per capita consump-
ton of Intoxicating drinks has increased five and
half gallons since the anti-saoon crusade be-
gan. Five and half gallons per capita means
something over 400,00O000 gallons, which is GER
tainly no mean quantity of liquor when consd-
cred increase The inference is that the
spreading anti movement has encouraged greater
consumption, the devotees of the flowing bowl max
ing haste to drink up their portion before the day
of reckoning is upon them.
We are not of that class of prohibitionists who
consider the simple drinking of beer or whisky
crime sin. Our contention is that the
saloon is nuisance, made so by the saloon men.
who have violated all the laws made TO regulate
their business; that the act of drinking though in
itself it may be innocent leads to crimes and sins
against God and the government, and in many
cases robs the drinker of his manhood and his
honor. We further maintain that the saloon is not
the place for moderate drinking it, as the Brew
ers' association asserts. moderate drinking is con-
ducive to health and happiness
The circular of the National Model License
league lacks the power to carry conviction It's col
orng is too lurid its language too hystericaL 1t is
calculated to give the ants encouragement for
never before has the other side shown such unmis-
taxable signs of having been hit. But the publicity
agents of the Model License league have made sad
boch of their work In places the circular is laugh
able, in others absurd. If as the circular infers the
majority of the people want to drink and the traf-
fic cannot be abolished as long as this condition
exists, what is it that causes the leagues worri-
ment. And if the consumption of liquor has in
creased five and half gallons per capita since
the agitation of the prohibtionsts why not spend
their money in encouraging the crusaders in their
efforts at reform, rather than in an attempt to
nullify their work? Altogether this circular is the
best evidence that the work of the temperance peo-
pie is bearing fruit that has yet come to hand