The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-01-02
STATE law WILL PROBABLY BE
PASSED AT NEXT SESSION
ONE SALOON TO EACH 500
Would Mean but Ten Saloons For Crystal
Movement Has Brewsrs
support.

The question OF saloon reputation is
TO be a very live one at the coming
session Of the legislature. There will
be the usual demand for prohibitory
law but 1t is not likely that such a
measure will find enough support TO
put 1t through. There are two other
proposed laws that will have great
strength and one probably and both
possibly may be put through.
One proposition is local option
applied to smaller units than the
county and the other is to limit the
number OF saloons. basing the number
that may he licensed in any city or vii
Iage TO a certain unit Of population.
The number 800 is the one most
frequently heard which means that
each city. township or village be
allowed TO have but one saloon TO
each 500 Of population
Should such a law pass it will limit
the number of saloons that may be
licensed in Crystal Falls to at least 10
andA may run it down as low as for
while the population of the community
commonly known as Crystal Falls IS
acknowledged to be 5000 great
many live on mining locations sur
rounding the city but not within the
city limits.
In the matter of local option. the
smallest unit that can vote on local
option under the present law is the
county. In many counties the largest
city contains more population than the
balance of the county combined ana
large cities, as rule, vote wet
and thus prevent the smaller commun-
tiles where the sentiment is adverse TO
the maintenance Of saloon from
prohibiting such institution within its
bounds The advocates of a greater
focal option measure argue that these
small communities shall have the
right 20 say for themelves whether
saloon should be maintained within
their limits and not have that institu-
tion forced upon them by the large
centers Of population.
The movement TO limit the number
OF saloons 10 population is more Tor
midable for the reason that 1t has the
backing of the brewers and other who
have their money invested in mailing
houses, breweIies. distilleries, etc.
From a financial standpoint they
hay. come TO realize that they are
losing money in business way aud
losing prestige in popular way. lr-
responsible saloon keepers are generally
poor customers The losses are very
heavy and the expense of conducting
business commensurately heightened
Then IL is recognized that it's the
irresponsible and vicious saloon keeper
that causes the trouble in a popoular
way and in the greatest menace 10
morality.
The man who has no money invested
ia his business has no interest in main
tanning high standard OF business
while the man who owns his business
place. pays his license with his own
money and pays his liquor bills when
they become due has pecuniary in
terest in the continuance OF the busi-
ness for as it depreciates his wealth
'Nzlepreciates. A prohibition wave TO a
mar 40 has several thousand dollars
inve4,t,.I in saloon means heavy
financial loss but TO the man who il
''staked by brewing Brm it means
only shift to other work or other
fields he loses nothing.
Thus il is that the brewing inter
ests. recognizing the advancing wave
of prohibition. have taken steps Il
Offset the move by purifying the bust
ness as much rs possible They argue
that with one saloon to each.5OO of pop.
ulation saloonkeeper will be able tc
ply his trade at profit. obey the law
be discriminate in the sale OF his
wares He will have such a number
10 draw .business from that he will be
satisfied with the earnings OF his baI
during the hours which the state law
allows him TO stay open and need not
keep open all night Likewise he vii
be able to keep n respectable place cul
out the wine rooms the disFeputabl'
dives and other adjuncis that now
curse the business
The movement has 20 many things
in ita favor and 20 fow IN opposition
that IA lonke ae if IL will hear fruit
Crystal Falla has depended yer,
much upon ita saloon license for rev
enuc and the limiting Of the number
q saloons will be watched with inter