Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-10-19


ders. pauperism, and crime exist |
ing in the country are in some de-
gree at least traceable to this evil.
#. therefore, state deems the alb
solute prohibition of the manufac-
ture and sale within her limits of |
Intoxicating liquor for other than
medical. scientific and manufacture
ing purposes, to be necessary to the
peace and security of society, the
courts cannot override the will of
the people,
"Now, if it be true that idIeness,
disorder, pauperism and crime, as
said by the supreme court, are
chargeable to the tratfic-and who
is there to deny it?-then surely
the people of the county who bear
the expense of maintaining paupers
and criminals should have the right
to say whether or not saloons shall
be permitted to increase the num-
Der.
81 am not a prohibitionist. /
am not out to advocate county op-
tion in any community. But I do
insist that the people who have to
bear the burden of the traffic Rave
an inherent right to say whether
or not it shall exist. If we had
county option law at this time, the
people Of this county would have
the opportunity to say at the next
election whether they want saloons
in Freeborn county or not. l can
see no injustice in such a law. If
the voters abolish the saloons in the
county, that would not prevent any
citizen from having liquor or beer
for his cwn use. 1t would not in
terfere with the so-called personal
rights of anybody.
1.-THE principal objection to coun
ty option comes from the brewers
and the liquor dealers. Are they
the guardians of the people? Are
they the conservators of our
our morals? Should they be per-
mitted to dictate our laws and our
policies? This is what they are
doing, and that is why the people
are up in arms on this question.
AS Mr.. Gray has said: They are
not only brewing beer but they are
brewing politics and politicians
"Of course, to you in Albert Lea
and in the smaller towns generally
this question of brewery domino
tion is not such a serious matter.
In most instances, I suppose, your
) saloonkeepers own their property
and are settled, responsible mem.
bers of the community. Most Of
them have some regard for public
opinion and for the welfare of the
r community; but in the larger cities
the situation is entirely different
Ninety per cent of the saloons are
either owned or absolutely control
! led by the brewing companies
2 The keepers are hired men, with NJ
e responsibility except to shove Out
p the DOPE as one of them express
ed himself to me.
1.-THE fairly decent saloon is nj
longer to be found as a rule. Thu
q president Of our city council stated
e publicly the other day that in more
than two hundred places in the city
, of Minneapolis dissolute womer
have rooms above saloons. A sa
E loon keepers license had been sus
= pended twice because of misconduc
in this respect. and our mayor an(
the police department had to make
an open fight in the council, extend
ing through several meetings., tt
prevent a renewal of license fol
e that place.
: 1T is an open secret in Minnea
polls that many of our alderme,
e are absolutely dominated by thu
breweries. In the years that hav'
been connected with the Voters
+ league, | have had opportunity t.
y learn the true situation. Nearl.
S every grating alderman that w
' have had to contend with owed hi
nomination and election to tn,
I breweries. 1t is this condition O.
affairs that has opened the eyes O.
+ the people. When the brewerie
assume to run. not only the legisla
!; ture, but cur cities, it is time TO
u the people to cry halt.
"A county option law would b.
: an efficient weapon. With such
S law the voters would take the mat
0 ter in their own hands, if necessa
e ry. The breweries would be per
: mitted to do business the same a
~ now in many counties, but I am in
J. clined to think that it would b
e during good behavior. This is tn
T way the justices Of the suprem
i court of the United States hol,
;, their office. l grant that if we hal
II county option law many of tn
u counties in this state would vot
,, out the saloons. What if they do
q Is the saloon a necessary part O
l. our civilization The longer l live
l. the less good l see in it. Som
= years ago, trivial incident mad
an impression on my mind that
cannot forget.
Il was out at Portland and tool