Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-09-15
An Awful ReCOil.
Editor Of the Leader:

Editor Of the Leader:
Tuesday night and the following morn
ing, the old town was agOg. An article
had appeared in the Times, written pre-
sumably by the editor of that paper, who
is a member of the police commission,
which was hell-fire, wide open de-
fenSe Of the liquor interests in the city,
good, bad and Indifferent. 1t was read
widely and it was shocking in its un-
bridled license in its tone.
Three of our most popular and useful
citizens were mentioned by name and
put in the bad and unsafe list by the
writer Of the editorial. 1t was an in
vective in his disturbed mind-and it
was boomerang, because majority of
the best saloon keepers now have the ar
ticle labeled as most untimely and dam
aging TO their business. They must suf-
fer-it moved many citizens to say eX
treme things, pause, and again wait for
the ballOt--Which in the last few years
shows "the way victorious opposition
has been crystalized right here in good
old WatertOwn, Liquor history is now
being made in this city. Is it bend or
break?
A well beloved pastor Of large ac-
quaintanctohip, reputable lawyer and
most prominent business man receive
sympathy because of the unfair assault,
and congratulations for qualifying for
| the noble name of man; and they can
| feel proud Of the fact, that they have
suffered with the water commissioners,
Mr.. harrington, Miss G. and several 9TH
er good citizens who are i'll the Times
''baG" list.
Notice has been taken of the fact and
it has been the subject Of general re-
mark, that certain individuals can do
( about anything that is doubtful and not
word is said in the Times in condem-
nation and to them the paper is the
"best ever;" but let anyone go contrary
to the interests of that paper, however
right and just their cause may be, the
offending party or parties are abused
and declared as unsafe and not wanted.
The laughing part of the public shook
with cOnvuIsi0nS after reading and rec
Ollecting past journalistic efforts, the
following: "WithOut any intention OF
defending the liquor traffic" Only
once has it's columns eyaded its dyed-in-
the-wooI defense of the wide open and
on the rampage liquor business, and
that was when HeOn applied for Ii
cense. Was that for means to selfish
end?,
The life Of the liquor business in this
city depends largely On strict regula-
tiOn. The man in the junction saloon
is doing more good than hundred pro-
hibitionists could do in a life time by
his practical demonstration of how to
run an ideal saloon, the only kind Of a
saloon which will survive in this now
thoroughly aroused community.
There are many we'll meaning saloon
keepers who have heavy property in
vestments in the city who are enterpris-
| ing and loyal to local interests, who
have been, no doubt, greatly discouraged
| by the fiipant article which appeals to
the other extremists, the prOhibitiOnistS,
idealists. Let us avoid conflict and i'll
feeling by moderate regulation. Re-
ward the good saloon keeper, limit the
number and allow no ''flOaterS" to con-
tinue to outlaw the men who desire to
remain in the business and can make
Watertown a model license town and
turn the tide of no license, which if in
augurated would be local calamity.
The Roman Catholic church has by
edict at Baltimore called saloon keeping
a dangerous and unbecoming business;
the other churches, also the lodges have
excluded otherwise good men.
1t is up to you, good saloon keepers,
who are in the majority to not only show
your hands, but raise your voices in pro-
test to the harmful article in the Times.
Your action will reverse all those bans
against you, caused by a few black sheep
in your flock.
Act, and show that strict regulation
will save the saloon from fanatical des-
tructiOn and the community from a
reign Of blind pigs and hell-holes.
Anti-ProhibitiOn.