La Junta tribune., 1909-07-24


frequently. What is the saloon
keeper to do when the drunkard steps
up 10 him and says, Give me
another drink or III smash your
mug? Some temperance lecturers
take for their motto. Remember the
Maine. and give 'em hell" think
too many vials of wrath are poured
out upon the saloonkeeper, and too
much sympathy wasted upon the
drunkard. Most drunkards are en-
titled TO no sympathy whatever.
They voluntarily make themselves
drunkards. They would rather tie
drunkards than sober men, and some
actually feel proud and stuck up when
they are drunk. | have helped my
last drunkard out OF the gutter. The
next one find rolling in the filth
and mire OF the gutter | will leave
him there, It's the proper place for
him The Bible says. Let him that
is filthy be filthy still"
Several years ago a bartender in
La Junta reformed a drunkard, and
II happened in this way Jim. who
was slave TO strong drink, entered
saloon one cold morning, poorly
clad and shiyering with cold. He
laid fifteen cents upon the counter.
and asked for a glass of grog The
bartender looked at him and then
said,
Jim, don't you think you had bet
ter save this fifteen cents and buy
yourself an overcoat!'
Jim's pride was touched, and, sum
moning all the remaining powers of
his dllapidated manhood, he said,
why, yes, believe | had" and
picking up the fifteen cents. he add
ed as he walked out, Il guess
have taken my last drink"
The gentleman who gave me this
/ information says that to his certain
I knowledge. Jim never took another
glass of liquor while he remained in
I La Junta, which was more than a
year after this event occurred.
I Let us do justice TO the saloon
keeper. Let US do justice 10 every
body My position is that the sa'
loon business as a business is de
moralized, and demoralizing, that II
Is totally depraved and cannot h
reformed. Like the mule. II has
neither pride OF ancestry or hope o.
posterity. Many great and good mel
have tried to reform the saloon, bu
have always failed. The most nota
BILE case In recent years Is that o.
Bishop Potter, OF New York. Sev
erM years ago he established mum
Der OF temperance or light drink sa
looms In New York City. where al
the evils of the modern saloon wer'
eliminated. The usual patrons o
the saloon. however. would not pa
,ronize them. however, because the.
would not sell fire water"-some
thing strong that would pus the devi
In man and give him thirst 70
blood, and as result they all failed
Bishop Potter was one Of the grea
men OF this country. man OF grea
wealth and great ability, with "A hear
as big AS the heart OF william How
ard Taft, and brains enough 10 max
two United States senators and
congressman thrown In for goo
, measure. When such u man falls,
4 Is useless for any one else to try.
/. The saloon ought to be ou,lawed
and suppressed as u public nuisance
and that IL what the people are dc
, INK In most Of the states Of tn
union. II Intoxicating liquors ar
! sold AT all. let tho drug stores am
clubs handi. them under suingcn
: laws and regulations, and then III
] drunkard. the loMfcr and the tin.hori
gambler will be eliminated. but
says some one. II we don't have M
looms We will have blind tigers an
Joints. Very well. supposing we dc
what Of IT. Biiad tigers would d.
less harm than tigers and hycna
that can se.-vix: the open saloon
And ns 10 joints, they would be- !
big Improvement upon the saloon
Several years ago u friend Of min'
took me into joint In Dodg. City
Kan. TO show mc what u Joint looked
like. II was M quiet. orderly ant
respectable looking M u ladies' par
lor. No drunken men or lonfcr'
were allowed there; no liquors were
sold there by the glass. and none
were allowed to be drunk In the bar
room. All liquors were sold In pin,
and quart bottles. My friend bought
n bottie t,f bcer and they nut him