Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1911-03-30
AN IMPORTAN T

An important factor i'll the liquor prob.
lem seems TO have been overlooked both
by the advocates and opponents of pro.
liibi,iou who have been discussing this
subject iu the Peoples Forum Of The
Daily. This factor is the saloon. How
j, has escaped criticism during the three
Years the people nave been writing liquor
editorials for this newspaper passes I'M
ders,anding. Its escape is the more re-
siarkable because Of attention having
frequently been directed to it in this
column.
The saloon, in the sense that the liquor
interests depend almost entirely upon it
for the distribution of their products and
owe to it the remarkable development of
their business, is practically the whole
liquor problem. 1t is baneful institu-
iion, not alone because of what it dispen
ses, but also because of the power, par
,icularIy the political power, it exercises,
il is probably the most demoralizing in
fience in the land. II encourages
ITuUNeltSS, II lDStGts CllhlC anu, IA u
,neasure not re allied by the ordinary cit
ilen, it fosters corruption. 1t is involved
IN politics in self.defeuse and its influ.
ence is always directed in favor of men
and measures ~antagonistic to the best in.
;erests of the general public. 1t is the
headquarters Of the repeater, the ballot
box suffer. the criminal and the corrup-
zionist. II has :icyer, SO far as history
s..ows, been identified as an institution
with II movement for the general good
Of the people.
Under THESE circumstances it seems !
strange that it has not more frequently
been the target of the advocate of the
prohibition cause. As it is the root from
which the liquor traffic draws it susten- |
ance, it would appear to be a most en-
celle1nt object of attack. Denied means
of distribution, the liquor traffic must
fail, as certainly as if the manufacture of
liquor were actually prohibited. More
over, the saloon is the most disquieting
answer u the cry OF the man who argues
,ilat the elimination of the liquor bust
hess would he a blow at his personal
liberty. Shall good government fail and
public officials be corrupted for the sake
"i the individuals daily half hour at the
lar' Surely one canno justify the So.
loon, as some men do their own drink.
ing, by declaring the, are temperate
49,, &c ;rtN~,,,te N'l,, t.-:-
temperance: Or What would be the value
Of temperance on tn. part of every man
Who ever entered a ssloo.,, if tia, place.
as an institution, is to remain the head.
quarters OF AL that is harmful in the NOR.
al life of the community aud the nation?
Nor can it be argued that saloons NAV be
regulated and thereby purged OF immor.
atty. II they can be, why has the purg-
sig II =: been done' Has any city ever
slUne II? Is there not at least one dive
where CRIMINALS corsort and election and
other fraud, are planned in every com.
muuity in which the legalized saloon ex.
jsts9 Is there not, inieed one such dive
under the so called regulated saloon sys-
Gem fs every blind pig OF sightless tiger
chat preys On manhood ir so.called pro.
sihition terrilory1
There is, however, one phase Of the sa.
looms DEVELOPMENT. less uufavoraLle ia
1t than sny other. which deserves the
careful attention Of those who would ND.
roo, the liquor traffic. This is it's social
side. The ssioou has been called eth.
~~vorkingIasn's club" II is a placs
where u,ss may .n~et. And it is this oil
sePaared feature "f the saloon, perhaps
saore thAa the desire TO obtain liquor
s,st psses tire say for the establishment
ct iilicA drintiss places in y~rohihstio,
siistricAa- It Is strange that prohihitioo
lists have never organized a n,sve,nen
Gsr shs ssudy ~ tie saloon and for Oh,