Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-06

StTaHSl0 the WlIo tnaC ne mas SWOrIl
to protect He will thrash his children
and do anything to get money for
drink. He will kill his wife. 1t has hap
pened many times. And the man who
signs this petition in Ottumwa is do
ing itNwith the dripping blood of that
woman. Thank God we have ostraclsed
the saloon in this country and by
Gods grace we will keep it ostracised.
Over in the old country gentlemen con-
duct saloons that is, they are called
gentlemen. It is not a disgrace there,
but here 1t is disgrace and thank
God for the difference of liquor views
in this and the country across the
waters, where came from.
Who is Responsible.
"Who is responsible? In the first
phase the man who drinks is
responsible. In defense of the saloon
keeper I will say that he does not try
as hard to get man to come into his
place and drink as preacher to get
a man to come to his church. Not half
as hard. He doesn't have to. The man
needs no urging to enter saloon. /,
MAN drinks because it is social
custom. Conviviality places the de-
canter on the sideboard. Conviviality
causes a man to ask another into
saloon to have a drink. The man is
responsible. He could say when he
starts to take the first glass, I will
not When he finds the curse Is
getting hold of him he could say, I
will not But he goes on and on
through his own weakness. 1t is mans
weakness that calls for his protection
The man who has will power enough
to drink moderately and puts the
bottle to the lips of his weaker friend
think of him. would rather be a
saloon keeper than be this friend who
invites a man to drink with him. There
is another party in the pool respon-
sible. It is the liquor traffic. Do you
think that these men who are circulat-s
ing the petition in Ottumwa are stand
ing the expense? Not at all. It's the
big fellows, the big liquor men that
are standing behind them with every
assistance. Don't think you will have
snap. While you are here in this opera
house, the liquor men are planning
and scheming to determine how they
may be successful with their petition.
The great liquor traffickers are using
these men in Ottumwa as tools. They
reap the benefit of saloons, not the
saloon men. I am not accusing the
saloon men Of this city entirely. They
are the serfs of traffic. They do not
make the money. " ",.,
Gin the fourth place, you and I are
responsible. If we sign that petition
we are paving the way for the destruc-
ton of our boys. We are consentfng to
the business that destroys many a
home. Fight the saloons, you who will,
but you men who will not take up the
fight, for Gods sake and the sake of
your fellow men, keep your hands
clean of this destruction and keep your
names off that petition"
Regan Gives Figures.
Mr.. Regan gave figures and he gave
them out in big punches thick and
fast. He declared that it was his UNI
derstanding that the people Of Ottum!
wa were crying for $4,000 revenue to
run the city. II have dug up little
of it since l have been here and
guess / can dig up the rest of it and
more too" said Mr. Regain. Nov,
want to tell you fool taxpayers just
what taxes you are paying. We Will
take a piece of property worth $4,000.
Do you know what taxes are paid on
here in Ottumwa? 1t Is $151.50. 1t
is enormous when you compare it with
other cities. On the same amount OF
$4,000 taxes are paid in other cities
in the following amounts:
Creston. Iowa .$14700
Milwaukee. Wis. .............. $500
Joplin. Ark. 5000
Rockford, Ill.,, with saloons).. $500
Rockford, Ill.,, without saloons
now. -. $500
"Here in Ottumwa you are paying
more than double the taxes we are in
Rockford, Ill. It Is amazing. And
yet they say you must have saloons
to run the city. I want to tell you
what we have done in Rockford. We
closed the saloons two years ago.
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