The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-04-06
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC IS
UNFAIR
Interesting Points of How the Liquor
Traffic Works.

Two temperance workers sat on the
platform. Two saloonkeepers sat
down near the door. One of the tenn
perance speakers was known to be
mighty in invective against the saloon
and the saloonkeeper. The other was
a gentle. quiet. but convincing rea-
soner concerning the damage done
by the liquor traffic.
Said one of the saloon men, Il am
more afraid of the quiet argument of
/ that old man there. than of all the
/ hard language of that young speaker. -
i Following we give an outline, the
speech of the quiet old man that the
saloonman feared. The whole address
may be summed up in this short SEN
! tence. The liquor traffic is unfair
The liquor traffic is unfair to the
city. 1t makes the saloon a city in
stitution; all its impurity and crime a
city of impurity and crime. Whatev-
er disgrace the traffic produces, be-
comes the disgrace of the city licens-
ing it, The citizens are made part
ners in the criminality of the saloon.
The liquor traffic is unfair to the
home The principal business of a
city or village is the making of
homes. Nothing should be allowed in
the city but such as conduces to the
benefit of the home. We know of
nothing in all of life in any nation
that damages the home as does the
liquor saloon.
The liquor traffic is unfair to the
drinker. 1t takes his strength, it
takes his reputation. it takes his
character, it takes his clearness of
brain, it takes his skill of hand, it
takes his satisfaction in life, and his
hope of eternal life. 1t takes away
his manhood and his God. 1t gives
nothing in return.
The liquor traffic is unfair to the
business man. 1t gets the first grab
at the workman's wages, by trapping
him Saturday and Sunday just after
he has been paid his weekly wage. 1t
shows it's greed by keeping open long
after other stores are closed. 1t
plays upon its patrons weaknesses
and passions and units them for legi
innate business. 1t strips men of
their money and precludes the posi-
bility of their paying other legitimate
bills.
The liquor traffic is unfair to labor.
1t uses up raw material, employing a
less number of men in the process
than any other business. 1t employs
a far smaller number of men for the
money invested than any other actiy-
! ity. 1t makes life for the laborer, in
these days of machinery exceeding
| ly dangerous 1t units the man, who,
without 1t, Is a very capable work
man. 1t spends for the laborer all
his money and makes 1t impossible
for him to use liquor and buy q
home. Everything that makes against
the laborer also is a damage to the
employers Of labor.
The liquor traffic is unfair to those
seeking the betterment of the commu-
nifty. Schools are not so we'll attend
ed from the homes of drinking men.
Children of drinking parents are not
as clear headed to do intellectual la
Dor. Churches find the saloon the
greatest obstacle in their work of
evangelizing the land. All reforms
eXpend most of their strength against
the saloon, and every kind of crime
makes a breastwork of the liquor
/ traffic behind which to hide AS a re-
suit, the education, civilization and
regeneration of the individual and of
the community are made impossible
/ by the liquor trafflc.-Florida Jour
nal.