The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-05-20
THE REAL ISSUE IN
oHIo's GREAT CAMPAIGN
BY w. ". Marsh, Supt. Anti-saloon
League.


League.
The Personal Liberty league and
kindred defenders of the barbarous
liuuor traffic, have been busy in in
venting false issues in defense of the
trade. with a desire to blind the
eyes of the unsuspecting to the real
facts that lie at the foundation OF
this great crusade. Many have been
the paramount" issues exploited
but they have proven ineffective to
stay the tide or to delay the final
verdict. Following are a few sam
pies:
Taxation is not the paramount is
sue in this long-continued battle with
the liuuor traffic Common sense
teaches us that if the cause of SO
much expense, for which taxes are
levied, is removed, the tax rate, 9TH
er things being equal, will be reduc-
ed.
Business is not the paramount 10
sue. Is 1t not reasonable to believe
that with saloons abolished all lines
of legitimate business will prosper
to the extent, at least, that money
was spent for intoxicants?
Confiscation of Property is not the
paramount issue, for property re-
mains after the saloons are gone and
is even more valuable where there
are no saloons. Besides, the supreme
fn4n hn
clared IF the public safety or the
public morals require the discontinue
ance Of any manufacture or traffic,
the hand of the legislature cannot
be stayed from providing for it's dis
continuance by an incidental incon-
venience which individuals or cor
porations may suffer"
The Question of Revenue is not the
paramount issue. The government
either local, state or national, is not
dependent on the saloon. Even the
government tax on liquor was war
measure. Every distillery, brewery
and saloon could close business to-
morrow and next year not one tax
payer in ten thousand would know
the difference, so fs.r as his taxes
ere concerned. Besides, the supreme
court of the United States said many
years ago, and has never taken ii
back, that "if a loss Of revenue
should accrue to the United States
from a diminished consumption OF
ardent spirits, she will be a gamer
thousand fold in the health, wealth
and happiness of the people"
What is the paramount issue in
this fight against the liquor traffic ?
it Is the Saloon.
Keep your eye fixed on the real
issue. When the wet advocate tries
to discuss other issues with you, per-
sist in talking to him about the sa'
loon.
Ask him If he can defend the sa'
loon on moral grounds.
Ask him If the average saloon is
run according to law
Ask him if the saloon is a bene
fit to mankind morally, socially OF
Intellectually.
Ask him If he takes his wife, moth
er or sister with him when he visits
the saloon.
Ask him why the saloon is so gen
orally recognized as the incubator OF
crime and criminals.
Ask him why authorities agree that
the saloon is the recruiting station
for jails, prisons and asylums.
Ask him why it is when crime
is committed the saloons are always
FIRST searched for the criminal.
Ask him why every court in the
land has time and again sounded g
warning against the saloons and has
upheld laws giving the people the
right to abolish them.
Ask him why the supreme cour
of the United States has held thai
NO man has an inherent right to run
a saloon and sell intoxicants.
Ask him If he wants his son, broth
er or father to become regular pa
tron of the saloon.
Ask him why, If the saloon is /
good thing, the country has no use
for its product.
Ask him why the saloon business
is conducted behind screens and
painted windows, if it is safe ant
sane business.
ASK him why If the saloon is &
good institution, the state Of Ohio
taxes 1t and restricts it to further
provide against the evils arising
therefrom.
Ask him 10 give few specific In
stances in which saloon benefited
community.
Ask him TO give one instance where
any saloon anywhere benefited any
one.
by the time he has answered these
and similar pertinent questions
which may be asked he viii prob
ably want rest.