The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-05-15
ANOTHER WAY OF ROCKING A BOAT.

dangerous a
a fool friend.'
One meet his enemy in fair fight and fight it out but
tool friend is flank attack that is bound to cripple
The of temperance on trial before the people of
tins country The antlsaoon forces have waged terrific
warfare and have made wonderful progress.
The ttsaloon people making converts every day,
but there thousands of men who yet undecided
1t is from these that future converts must come.
1t Will not be the arguments of the liquor interests so
much the conduct of the anquor people in general
and the operation of restrictive laws in sections where
they have that will prejudice the who
is yet undecided
Very few will shy at temperance Very few actually
advocate absolutely drunkenness other But
the instinct against bgotry is second in strength only to
that against tyranny in the breast Of free
80 when, in the name Of temperance, bigotry and
tyranny appear the loses 1t is of the harm
done by well meaning, but fool, friend
Such is the of Louis Ses tenant farmer at Will
oughby little town in northeastern Ohio
The county went dry Steis, former mill worker had
met with an accident and compelled to leave the heavy
labor of the mill He rented small farm and with his
wife and 10 children took up the tillng of the soil
Tn the farm were some apple trees. Steis, being
thrifty German, additional in the apple crop
He rugged little cider mill and made cider Last fall
he sold all he made it made (while it was
"sweetD except one barrel, which he reserved for his
This barrel of cider was cured with old world skill and
became a clear and sparkling beverage.
The neighbors when they dropped in often given
glass of the cider and plate Of Frau Steis kuchen
And this was set out in the spirit of hospitality.
Steis was sober His boys hard working lads.
His wife does her share. No guest reeed from the
Stes door, and the barrel of cider fred none of the coun
tysde to deeds of violence.
The county had gone dry The honest farmers of the
county had been told how their boys ruined in the
cheap GROCERY They and their wives had rebeed against
the doctored poison sold whisky. They had voted
against the saoon they had condemned the groggery and
the grogshOp
Then day young mana stranger-came to the
door He had walked far Would Seis let him have some
thing to drink?
Certainly there the water in the WELL milk in the
can the cider in the barrel and the stranger well
come to take his choice.
'Ciders Very well. Here is cup and there is the
cellar door Help YOURSELF
The young man came up from the cellar and, thanking
Frau Seis, handed back the cup and coin Oh she
did not want pay. The stranger quite welcome. But
he laid the coin on the table and went away.
Then came the officers of the law. The young whom
the old German had welcomed an anti-saoon
detective.
But Louis Steis not prosecuted under criminal
law No. it not the crime for which he must suffer-
but he must be made to sweat for trying to cheat the
county out of the tax that is levied on saloons.
Tried and convicted Of selling this drink of cider he was
ordered to the dow tax" $1,000, and added pen
atty of 5000.
They attached his carpets, his furniture stoves beds
dishes cooking utensils farm Implements the horses the
the very flour in the bin the hame hanging in the
cellar the dried apples and peaches depending from the
garnet raers everything except the clothing Stes his
wife and four children home had on and the dog
1t all figured up 5000 but it would not bring that much
at sherfs sale So the county offered to accept $46 and
the lawyers took $3.50 Seis landlord loaned him
$500 and took mortgage all he owned
That victory for the anti saloon detective but
victory that will cost dear.
Such incident will nullify the work of the whole army
OF honest anti saloon leaguers for six months.