The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-14
says in regard to local option in Eaton


county:
Local option In Eaton county
has proved TO be all that its con-
servative friends claimed. II was
never expected IL would entirely
eradicate drunkenness from our
county, because men may import
it into the county and use 1t In a
private way, and some go outside
the county and get liquor and re-
turn in an intoxicated condition.
But these cases are less frequent
than was anticipated by the
thoughtful men of the county, and
are constantly growing less.
The local option law fs as well
enforced in Eaton county. II not
better, than any other criminal
law. There Is not a saloon In the
county, and the blind pig" r. less
common than larceny. Public
sentiment sustains the law. The
merchants at the county seat and
In other cities and villages of the
county are much pleased with Ii.
and many who voted against 1t
are now warmly in favor of 1t.
Collections are better. Many
who spent a large share OF their
earnings in the saloon, now use
their money for the necessaries
and comforts of the entire fam
lily. Men, who spent their time In
the saloons, now devote their en-
ergies to useful industries. Com
mercially IL has been an advan-
tage to the county, and the NOR
ais OF the people have improved,
less crime, less drunkenness,
greater prosperity, more home
happiness, and fewer boys are 60
Ing morally wrong. Several fami-
Hes, who were county charges
under the open saloon system. are
now self-supporting and prosper
Gus, and great change for good
has come to many families or
farmers. Farm property has been
greatly enhanced in value since
the saloon has been put out OF
the county. Buyers from wet"
territory or other states prefer to
do business In and rear their fam
lilies where they do not feel the
touch of the saloon. So great Is
the benefit OF a saloonless county
that very great majority OF our
people would not consent for a
moment to the return OF the sa-
loon.
Responding to a call for contribu
ions to the Popular dollar defens'
und," advocated by Mr.. Rood to sue
essfully combat the liquor interest
a Kalamazoo and other countie
1here the question of local option 1
o be submitted this spring, woinal
yorker In one Of the Kalamazoo mill
as sent IS, one donated by a frlen'
nd the remainder by herself. In he
ote accompanying the money sh'
avs: II would give my life II 1t woul,
ut the saloon out of the land"
Appeals For Funds.
Appeals for funds In behalf OF tn,
being waged by the Anti
aloon league to bring about state
ide local option in Michigan wer'
lade from a number OF Protestan
ulpits, Sunday.
Speaking in the Woodward-ave
BAPTIST church In the morning, Edito
OF the American Issue
ointed out that 100000 of the 40
100000 people in the south were liv
NJ In dry territory; that Their,
'ere more saloons In Chicago than II
OF the states south o
he Mason and Dixon line, and statet
hat he could name dozen statel
here the total number of saloons wa
sss than the number doing business
4 Detroit. The fight against the sa
BON had started in the villages ant
ad been carried into the counties ant
mailer towns, but in the next 1,
ears the larger cities would be tn,
eat or war, he declared Five hun
red and nineteen cities, ranging II
lie from 10000 down to 5000 hat
the saloon, he added.
Supt. G. w. Morrow, in the Fische
femorial church, Sunday morning
Did of the fight the Anti-Saloor
D remark that the league was get
ng much more financial encourage
lent from the public than it got ,
ew years ago. Six years ago, he said
he Detroit Office OF the league receiy
d only $500, just enough to hir,
ne man and stenographer, whereas
lst year s42,262 was contributed
nough to keep an efficient Office fore,
nd Is men on the road.
The Rev. Ben II. Spence, OF Toron
D, Ont. one OF the leading temper
nee workers in Canada, spoke In tn,
efferson-ave. Presbyterian church ii
he morning and In the Kercheval
We. M. 4. church In the evening
'ther pulpits were occupied by TEN
erance workers.