Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-04
(By Local Option League.l

The saloon in Rock Island has less
regard for the law than for the wind
that blows dust from the street The
law appears to be, In the mind OF the
saloonkeeper, something to be violated
for 8 cent profit, and to be obeyed
| only when it pays to obey 1t.
Do you remember how, two years
ago, the liquor dealers promised that
If they were allowed to continue In
business they would be good-very,
very good? They would clean up, and
obey the laws. they would close UP
at the legal time; they would stay
closed on Sunday; they would not sell
illegally, as to minors and drunlxards;
they would be good. Every one knows
how well they have kept this promise.
They have gone from bad to worse,
until they are scandal and a joke.
If you report to your friends that
you found a saloon open yesterday.
thinking to create a sensation, you will
be disappointed They will ask what
you expected. Did you think you
would find a saloon closed in Rock
Island on Sunday? Then you must be
ignorant.
did a little quiet investigating on their
own account. The territory lying be-
tween Sixteenth street and Twenty
fourth streets, and between Second
and Fourth avenues, was covered.
This territory includes the downtown
district, and there are about As sa-
looms in the district, or about half Of
the licensed saloons in the city. Out
of the whole number, just two places,
on Sixteenth street, were found that
presented the appearance OF being
closed. Every other saloon visited
had wide open side entrances, and was
being visited by men and boys. OF
course the saloons were not selling
anything. Certainly not. Who said
they were? They were just keeping
open house and burning lights for the
benefit OF any friends who might drop
in. The jingling OF the cash registers,
and the foaming glasses of beer that
the barkeepers were pushing across
the bars had nothing to do with the |
sale OF liquor on Sunday.
The downtown streets of Rock ISL |
and last night presented the appear
ance of Coney island, or of a circus |
day, rather than the evening Of Sab |
bath day in a Christian community. |
Drunken men, staggering and swear
ing, painted women, plying their trade, |
young boys and girls, getting a taste |
of high life," were the sights to be |
seen on the streets last night by the |
throngs of people who were out.
Between Second and Third avenues, |
on Seventeenth street, one saloon was |
doing business by at least two doors. |
Men we're going in and out at the |
rate of one every 80 seconds. The |
bar of this saloon was crowded with |
men at 7:45 o'clock. On Second ave-
nue., not only were side doors in use, |
but at least one saloon between Six |
teenth and Seventeenth streets was
receiving callers via the front door, |
AT the corner of Third avenue and |
street drunken men were |
sitting and lying about the front door |
of the saloon, some of them sleeping |
off their drunk.
Not only men, young end old, were |
after the drinks, but women were |
openly visiting the drinking places. |
If any person went dry in Rock Island |
last night, it was his own fault. And, |
strange to say, in the whole course of |
the investigation last night, all the |
time the men were out Summing"
they did not encounter single police
man. These men who did the investf-
eating are paying taxes to hire police
men to enforce the laws. They won
der where the policemen are. This is
the kind of an institution that is ask
ing you, by your votes tomorrow, to
perpetuate its life. If you vote mo-
tomorrow that will mean that you en-
dorse this lawless regime. It will
mean that you believe that the saloon
has right to violate laws, as you can
not do yourself without being pun
shed
PRESS COMMITTEE LOCAL OPTION
TEACTIE