Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-22
SIGN A PROTEST
st. Louis Business Men Ex-
+, press Themselves Against
Pro hibition in the State.
GIVE REASONS AT LENGTH
All in Favor of Strict Regulation, But
Question the Success of Efforts
to AnnihiIate.

st. Louis, April "a statement or
petition against prohibition in Mis-
souri, has been circulated among the
Louis and numerously signed. Follow
ing is copy of the document:
Agitation for sumptuary laws has, in
our opinion, gone SO far that general
welfare demands an expression of indi-
vidual opinion. Public interest has
been thoroughly aroused, and it is
high time to discriminate. Advantage
eous results may be drawn from these
conditions, providing this is done with
due regard to public safety and with
out unnecessary destruction.
Favor Regulation.
We are heartily in favor of regulat-
ing the saloon. Orderly proprietors
welcome that course; no one else
should be heard. We have no pet the
DRY to advance, but we insist that the
state must exercise general control
for the protection of the public. In
view of the confessedly unsatisfactory
state of the law, we are prepared to
encourage any intelligent legislation
that is based upon actual experience
at home or abroad. We will support
any plan that is calculated to cut
down disproportioRate number of sa-
looms and to establish the indepen-
dence and the responsibility of the
proprietor. The saloon keeper must
be out of politics, and any saloon keep
er that can not preserve good order
must be put out of business.
Draw a Distinction
| But we draw a broad distinction be-
tween the regulation of the saloon and
the prohibition of the brewery. We are
absolutely opposed to any measure
that has for its purpose the destruc
ton of the brewing interests of this
state. AS taxpayers we are mindful
of the tremendous contribution, run
ming into many millions, that is made
| by this industry to the support of ouI
state We know what it would mean
to have this contribution drawn from
other sources. We also know what il
means to withdraw s4,500,000 annual
|
alone to the national government. We
know how to estimate the c3lamitous
effect upon our city and state if this
one industry were wiped out. The con
fiscation of tangible property alone
would not fall below $50,00,000. The
destruction of good will would reach
even a larger figure. The discharge
of wage carriers would affect at leas
l1o.O00 persons dependent upon them
The destruction of allied business
would reach many more millions II
value and would affect thousands upor
thousands Of men now employed:
Encouraged to Grow.
These breweries have been built III
under the encouragement of the state
in large part by as enterprising ant
public-Spirited men as have contrf
buted to the prosperity and good name
of this community. Not only do W.
object to see these interests destroyed
as the result of hasty action, but We
condemn as immoral and outrageou:
the plan to confiscate without compen
sation properties and industries tina
have been built UP by the expendi
lture of so much enterprise, ability ant
resources; and we refuse to stand b!
and see them, without protest sub
ljected to the expense and embarass
lment of ill-advised attack. The mer'