The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-10-25
Bill and the Saloon
Question


"Bi" said his friend John last evening s'Ive
been hearing whole lot for some time now from some
of these fellows who want to bring the saloons back to
Marion. They've been telling what fine thing it
would be for the town to have the saloons back at the
old stand and they make pretty good talk but just
don't know about this business villa you'd let
ask you few questions. know you will tell the
truth Bill"
Why sure John, I'll be gla dto help you in any way
I can What is it you want to know?'
"In the first place Bill what is a saloon?"
"An institution to make money!
HIM, that's pretty pert, Bill but how does it make
it's money!"
"By selling beer and whiskey, by robbing many of
its partons, by keeping women in its back rooms"
"Be careful, Bill, amt you going little too far The
fellows was talking to didn't say anything like that
Then I've heard good deal of talk from the dry people
about the poor people giving the saloon keeper most of
his trade. What do you know about that? What class
does give the saloon it's principal proft?
"The boys and young men, rich and poor alike"
why Bill didn't suppose the rich man ever suf-
fered from the saloon You must be wrong"
"The saloon knows neither rich nor poor, sober nor
drunken John The saloon is after the money and it
goes after it wherever it may be and whatever
lit has to get there"
"Wel why does it pick out the boys, Bill
Because if the liquor habit is not contracted in
youth there is little chance for the habit"
'Does the saloon then present special attraction
Ito the boys?'
'It most certainly does The bright lights, the
brilliant reflection of the mirrors the gaudy decorations
the bravado music and noise of the saloon inevitably
attract the youth who happens to be the streets at
might.
hurt? What he learns there won't hurt him much will
lit?'
He learns to drink he often learns steal and to
be the associate of bad Women If he has not already
become acquainted with 1t he learns the vest language
and the most heish stories the mind of man has ever
invented The boy learns to consider drunkenness.
joke robbery smart trick and lewd women the proper
Icompanon of man. He learns to spend his money and
when he mares his wife keeps his family by doing the
washing of the saloon keeper for whom her husbasd
makes living"
$50 slow there Bill. Just consider what you say.
Remember want my information so I will know how
Ito vote next Wednesday, I've been busy haven't had
time to watch conditions as ought and so I've got to
depend on my friends. But want to do the right
thing, Bill 1t doesn't seem possible there any lnsti
tuition in this land that treat my boy like that You
have boy Bill and I've got to be good deal more
careful than if there wasn't Jack junior to be cared
for I'm somewhat careless guess john but thought
saloons just sold beer and little liquor and that was
lall there was to it,"
"John just sure the sun continues to rise and
set will the sale of liquor in American saloons be
accompanied by these awful evils have mentioned
"But Bill doesn't the boy get some real benefit
from the saoon?"
'Wel he does get one thing which liquor people
claim is benefit he gets Personal berty-the right to
do anything he wants whether anyone else wants it or
not The saloon gives him the right to get drunk and
to murder if the end drives him to it, 1t gives him the
right to beat his wife to let his children go uncothed
and unhoused to become disgrace to himself, his
family his city and his country Yes the saloon gives
him personal liberty. He Can take drink any time ne
wants and has the price,
"But oesnt he get any thing of real benefit, Bill.
Don't talk this foolishness about personal liberty to
II have enough to know that the more personal
liberty have the more every crook and murderer in
the country has don't care to shoot anyone in the
back, Bill Cut out this liberty thing and get down to
brass tacks Doesn't the Young fellow who goes to the
saloon get something of value for t?"
"Wel if he does, John, don't know it's name. If
IL xoIx 10 yof~.. aIn
heard of it, Did you?"
"No-o-o guess not, Bill But then if the young
fellow doesn't get anything the city surely does !"
"John from each saloon the city, county and state
collect together 81 900 all of which goes to state
asyums and penal institutions county poor fund and
|city police except $3.50"