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

gusing sight of the blear-eyed AM
reeling habitues, and are thereb,
debased and.degraded in their concep
tion of what is normal and to b'
accepted ip civic life. Nay more
their very souls are smirched beyonC
any earthly power to vhiten. Eaci
saloon wants hundred of them t.
take the places of unfortunate toper'
1t is gradually killing .otf, and the,
get them.
ask you if our boys and girls have
not an inalienable right TO grow al
in daily environment free from
the bestializing and brutalizira
sights and sounds of these open soress
All heaven and all that is wholesome
on each call on us not to rest until we
have accomplished this for those com
ing after us. Let us make this com
munity that much better than we
found it. The safety of the home and
the state demands it, Let us give tht
children fair chance We should have
only prayers and kind feelings for the
men who rent their buildings fol
saloons, and for the saloonist: but
whatever may be their theoretical
attitude toward us, each and very
rum.seller is our enemy whose business
is to take our money, rob us OF oui
regulations and character and give in
return to us and our families. only
shame and disgrace and misery.
You say this is strong language
Who is your enemy One who will
fully Injuries you AS have /, so have
many of you, son who has been
brought to the threshold of manhood
in decency aud self-respect, free from
the vices bred in the.plague spots un-
der arraignment therein, and who
promises to be valuable member OF
society. We have not saloon but
given the chance. would give him
the glad hand of welcome.
Ply him with liquor in exchange
for his money. urge him to come
agsin--the 'oftener the better and
eventually return the son bundle of
blasted hopes. ruined life. heart
breaking to you and bringing your
whitened heads in sorrow to the grave.
This is not mere rhetoric. You have
seen the tragedy enacted right here in
Alma; it is the plain. unvarnished
truth. We haven't drunkard today
but once was an innocent youth, and
many an aged mother would say.
20 that my enemy had taken my
life and spared my son"
The robins, bluebirds and larks are
with us again. The law says you
must not destroy them; the law pro-
tects them and it is a good law. Our
boys are always with us, but the law
doessnot protect them after they leave
the home nest. Are the boys worth
less than the birdsS Does some one
say, "You needn't go TO the dogs If
you don't want to. If a man is
weak and liable to so STUN mble, is il
the act of a friend or an enemy to
make il easy for him to fall, to jolly
or push him down the slide of mis-
eryS.
If we vote out the saloon and then
stand together for law enforcement
we shall lend hand to many weak,
who have fallen but hope to recover.
and answer their prayer Lead us
not into temptation but deliver us
from the evil'-and the same time
protect the rising generation.
expect to see the day when the
children and youth who attend our
schools and college may pursue their
education free from the blighting
shadow of the saloon; when the young
people may stroll out for a walk on
summer night and not be liable to
stumble into that trap;
A little boy was overheard praying,
% Lord, don't let the birds get
into Johnny's trap: but know they
won't Amen" what makes you
so sure, Willie?" asked his mother.
To which he replied, Cause smashed
the trap"
Is it not the duty of this munich
pality to prohibit institutions and
environments conducive to vice and
crimeg
Let us vote out the saloons smash
the trap.