Norwich bulletin., 1909-09-13

He said in part:
These telling words of Gods an
Gent prophet are still a vivid and
graphic description of what is done
by those who uphold the licensed IL
quor saloon. They call the saloon evil
good-and the no-license good, they
call evil. They put the terrific drink
darkness for the purifying light Of
temperance and the cheering light Of
abstinence for the darkness of indulg-
ence in strong drink. They put bitter
domestic experiences for the sweet
harmonies of home, and the noble re-
wards of upright, sober living they ex-
change for the biting bitterness of deg
radiation and ruin.
There are many perennial and per-
manent reasons for desiring the final
closing of liquor saloons.
/. Because they make drunkards,
and drunkards may be termed, appro-
priately, the disgrace of humanity and
the crime of the centuries. Licensed
saloons tempt men to acquire and Gull
tivate the appetite for intoxicating
liquors.
2. They bring shame and wretched-
ness upon the drunkard's home and
family. No man has any moral right
to throw upon his own nearest and
dearest ores the weight Of woe which
drunkenness surely infiicts.
3. They bear down heaviest upon
innocent women and children whose
natural supporter is enticed into the
saloon and so robbed of his hard earn
ed wages, that he cannot supply his
own family with those comforts of life
to which they are legitimately entitled.
Hence. the money which rightly be-
longs to the drinking mans. family
helps to make the liquor dealer rich.
This is an Outrag e
4. They hit hardest blows against
laboring meE-against people who
have all they can do to make a fair
living. Most saloons derive their
chief revenue from wage earners who
can i'll afford to waste their scanty
wages in these robber-dens.
8. They should be abolished be-
cause they are robber-dens, worse
than highwaymen. The highwayman
levels his gun at his victims head and
says: Your money or your life" But
the saloon says by its conduct: Your
money and your life" and not only
life, but that which Is much dearer
than life-ones manhood, character,
high destiny.
6. They corrupt politics. Who can
doubt it? Who dares deny it? Even
good men in political places fear and
dread and dodge the saloon influence
more imam oil otHer ihlluehS0s Gum
bined.
Z. They antagonize and damage ev-
ery human Understanding, indus
trial, civic, social, domestic, moral and
religious. They are the bitter. fierce,
heartless and ruinous enemies of ev-
erything that is most valuable to the
human heart-both temporal and eter-
nal. These are a few of the npmer-
Gus, permanent reasons for yotinv the
saloon out of existence. In addition,
there are some special reasons why the
voters of Norwich ought to rise up
IN all the might of their manhood and
hurl this deadly foe out of this COM
munity.
Conditions have conspired to make
this the most favored time we have
ever known for a successful campaign
against this enormous evil.
/. Because our forces were never so
we'll organized as they are at present
having a larger number Of efficient
courageous determined personal work
ers than ever before.
2. Because of the splendid results
of the past years vote-increasing the
no-license figures from 754 the previ-
Gus year to 1,914-allowing for license
a majority of only 292 as against their
anticipated majority of 1900.
8. Because of the encouragement
and inspiration thus impaired to our
no-license hosts. Men are no longer
saying as they did year ago: you
can't beat the liquor dealers here
They are too powerful for you" Mo-
But new hope has come into the Nor
witch heart and on every hand mer
are saying to us: Il believe you will
win this time"
4. Because of the high handed ar
rogance of some liquor dealers who
dare to browbeat, bulldoze aud fright
en- men into voting for license under
the threat, expressed or intimated
that If they favor no-license. they will
suffer the loss OF trade or of positions
upon which depend their livelihood.
This boycott. blackmail. black-hanC
policy ought to be resented by every
manly man who prizes his persona
rights as an American freeman. 1t /!
a wicked cause that has to resort tt
such base measures as these in ordel
to succeed. 1t is bound to prove {
boomerang, returning upon their owl
heads.
5. Becaues of the recent law secur.
ed by saloon supporters, compelling III
to get the names Of 500 petitioners, in
stead of %, as heretofore, before thu
question can be voted on at all, THU
has made us a lot of hard work. bu
has been greatly to our advantage b!
training our workers for more effective
work until the campaign closes.
6. Another strong, special reason To-
favoring no-license now Is the fac
that if we lose there will be no chance
to vote again on the question for tw'
years.
Z. But If we gain the victory it will
be for two years, and that will affort
a much better test of the new condi
lions than could be given in one year
This is a tremendous incentive to worl
hard for no-licenSe.
8. Because if we carry no-license nov
and at the end Of two years the tow
should return to license, there coul'
be only one saloon for every 500 inhab
ftants. which would give about thirt!
less than we now have. This woult
be a decided gain for decency.
9. Because many people have becom
so disguised with the shameful specta
Gle of many aaloons on Franklin squar
and West Main street, and with tn
open faced violation of liquor laws a
precticed by the so-called most re
spectacle bars in the city, that the.
are ready to assist in cleaning up an,
out of these dfsgraceful offenses. AM
they see no way Of doing this save b.
carrying no-license.
TO- Because the recent celebration
or our Town S anniversary mas DTOuSIl
it to the attention of the republic, from
ocean to ocean. How much more beau
tiful and fragrant would this Rose o
New England appear if it should Ri
itself of these repulsive and poisonou
places. which breed disease, contagior
misery and ruini
Here are ten sound special reason
for favoring no-license this year. lie
US give it one fair trial. If then
proves failure, we can easily go bacl
to license again and under much NOR
favorable conditions. Let every vote
do his duty and may God speed tn