United labor bulletin., 1909-12-10
DOES PROHIBITION PROHIBIT?

lions mere IN SO lar as the dispensing OF
liquors is concerned. While THE Labor
News" has no desire TO charge anyone
with a violation of the law, yet it is an
undsputed fact that there is more drunk
enness in the city of Colorado Springs
today, as evidenced by its presence on
the street, of persons under the influ-
ence OF liquor than there was for three
years prior to this city's becoming anti
saloon territory. Is there anyone that
will dispute the fact that there is as
much if not more, liquor sold in Colo
RADIO Springs today than there was prior
to the time that the drug stores were
voted out of existence, in so far as the
sale of whiskey is concerned?
1t is rumored on the streets of our
city that there is as much whiskey sold
in Colorado Springs today as there ever
was, and, if this is true, then the city
has been deprived of revenue of six
teen thousand dollars a year and the
anti-saloon forces have not accomplished
the good work that they claimed they
would if the city was voted dry terri
tory. Aside from this fact what good
same conditions exist within three miles
of this city that have always existed,
and where those indulging in such things
can go and spend their money and help
those engaged in business of this KIND
in a nearby city, to the disadvantage OF
their home merchants and business
men?
&c wi hat
this question would be to go back to the
conditions that prevailed prior to the
voting of anti-saloon territory, with the
exception possibly, that better regula-
tions could be made in behalf of the
drug stores that handle whiskey in con-
formity to the laws in existence at that
time Why not place it upon basis OF
issuing license to drug stores, with the
restriction that if anyone having IL
cense should be convicted of violating
the law, that the firm so doing would
lose its license for all time to come and
would be forever barred from engaging
in the handling of intoxicating liquors
in this city under any circumstances.
This plan has been carried out sue
cessfully in other states and clause
has been incorporated in the granting OF
licenses. that when the proprietor or
manager was convicted of the violation
of the law. his license was Immediately
revoked The result of this has been to
the advantage of cities in which liquor
is being sold
Colorado Springs is being seriously
handicapped under the conditions as
they exist at present, and while 1t is
known by almost every one in the city
that the editor of this paper does not
indulge in the use of intoxicants in any
way, yet the fact that this is tourist
city. that the people who come here are
the ones more directly affected by the
question. as to whether it is a dry
town or otherwise, seriously handicap |
ping merchants and every line OF busi-
ness of this city by the fact that it is ad-
vertised extensively by those who do
not even use iptoxicants that it is
ndry" town, and prevents numbers from
coming to the city and spending a few
days here. that would come under other
although the question OF
,;ouor should be the last item ffcGir their |
consideration.
The past winter has been a severe
one on the citizens of Colorado Springs.
business has not been as good as II couio
have been and any movement that VIII
deter or interfere with tourists coming
IN this city will injure our business men
and merchants.
If whiskey is to be sold in this city
let it be sold legally; let the city derive
its proper revenue; let it be under
proper police regulations; let our OWN
merchants keep our OWN money IN our
OWN channels of trade, which is lar
better than the present condition as rep
resented to exist in this city today.
IF the statements are true that whiskey
is. being sold in this city, as is generally
understood to be the case, it is far better
to have whiskey sold under proper police
regulations than to have "bootlegglng
gang infest our beautiful city, selling a
character of whiskey of the worst KIND
creating more drunkenness, giving our
city the worst form of advertisement, by
the statement that it is a "dry" town,
and yet hardly day passes that in some
sections of Colorado Springs, drunken
men can be sen. 1t would be better to
allow a druggist to sell liquor, who will
comply with the law, and pay revenue
for SO doing. than to permit our city's
fair name to be put in the class OF Blind
Tiger" Townsville Labor News, Colo
RADIO Springs, Colo. June II, 1909.
+ + r r r
Try a La Exploridad clear Havana.
r + r +
Organized labor in Oklahoma is expos
ing a scheme to do away with the provi-
sions of the constitution that prevent
state railroads being sold to combines