The Press., 1909-08-25
Civic Department. The address of the editor is on file at The Press Omce One Hundred Men of Stafford Some thing for Them and Us to
 Think About.

One E1un0FeO MAen or SCaTTOf0-SOme-
 thing for Them and Us to
 Think About.
 We were told last week that the number of signatures necessary to bring the question of license or mo- license before us at our next election has been obtained This means that approximately one hundred men, male citizens, mark you, of our town have been found willing to go on record as earnestly desiring the return of Stafford from it's present prosperity, decency and orderliness, under mo- license, to the diversity, wretched- ness. cruelty, debauchery and crime which we always have had. and al- ways must have, under license.
 Think of it, you men who signed the petition. Did you realize that you were asking that Stafford be given an opportunity to take a backward step? Think of it, fellow citizens of every rank, who like to hear our town we'll spoken of. Think of it, mothers, who dread the days of terror and the nights of abuse. Think of it, boys and girls, who may know that worst of fears, the fear of a father turned brute Think of it, fathers and mothers, whose boys, now pure and undefiled, will certainly (some of them, somebody's boys be walking in the pathway of ruin a year hence, if the petitioners have their way Think of it, you who have daughters whom you must keep at home, daring not to expose them to the insult and the dangers that the open saloon will bring to town, if the petitioners have their way. Think of it, you church mem bers, protesting to follow in the footsteps of the greatest Friend of man, and to serve a God who declares sin reproach to any people. Think of it, you ministers, working to up. hold and sustain on high level the moral and spiritual tone of the people Think of it, you men and women, who have been proud that our town has been for 8 year among those counted as most progressive and most clean. Think of it, all who have ever held the name of Stafford, and the cause of God and humanity dear Think of it; ONE HUNDRED men have been found who earnestly de- sire that this town shall return to second rank, the rank of those com munities. where the open saloon flourishes and the blight and curse oi the unspeakable traffic is felt.
 You men who signed the petition Do not try to dodge the issue. Nc argument that you can frame will be other than falsehood. The naked and shameful truth is that you desire, and are willing to go on public record as desiring, this town to return to license. Otherwise you would have let good enough alone.
 Who are you? Are you men who. by virtue of this act of yours. com mend yourselves to your fellow .citi- zens as men who can be trusted with important matters? Are you men to whom women may look for the pro- teotion and courtesy which is their right? Are you men to whom our boys may look for profitable example Are you men of whom the town may we'll be proud, as it is proud of it's citizens who do it honor? Are you men upon whom we may bank" when public honor is at stake. or private welfare in danger.
 No, you are by this act self-dis- qualified for any of these privileges, responsibilities and honors, with which a town loves to crown it's citizens. By this act of signing the petition. you have chosen for your friends and allies the worst class of men who dishonor our country, men who under the spacious guise of a respectable business, plan day and night how to complete the ruin of their patrons and begin the ruin of the new the boys). For after all has been said that can be said, and it is precious little, of the men who are good and honorable to some degree, in spite of their connection with the traffic, the large majority of those who sell liquor for a living are will fully engaged in 8 business which never at any time did any man any good, and which invariably fattens upon the weakening and ruin of man. hood and womanhood.
 Think again, one hundred men of Stafford, and perhaps you will, ere 1t is too late. withdraw your name from a petition which places you in the public estimation, and in the sight of God, among the avowed enemies of your fellow.men.