The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-03-15
THE WAGE Of OUR
DISRESPECT FOR LAW

than once year distributing Christ
mas boxes. UnluckY feIIow-men,
these are truly worth your efforts
and the laws remedies.
If you can then be inspi red to
such high ideals why not give the
blacklist published by a wholly
private organization, at least, the
warrant of justifcation-that Of the
law. If the complaint about the
present injustice of the workings of
the alleged pact in regard to post
ing" is true and was not made for
personal or political strength, but
with the possible idea that to bet
ter the local liquor traffic, then
some passing attention IS due to
the plan, although it be erroneous
and unlawful. Self government, it
is true, may, at any time, inspire
toward the public. But at all odds.
it is not statesmanlike or Justice to
tolerate one person or one body to
recommend the names for the pub
lie blacklist. Monopoly IS often
likely to become abusive. Suffer the
most humble and poverty -pinched
to have your official ear. Listen to
her or him as attentivelv as you
would to the most successful vote
deliverer; give her or him, at least,
equality before the law. Officers
can meet this ssituation with ease
and within the call of the law.
The legal blacklist has not been
a hardship to any but to the vici-
Gus saloonists. The better ones,
we are glad to say, under the prop
er order of affairs, can do more
solid and practical service for true
temperance than the impractical
talk of the average lecturer. They
at times in a masterful way refuse
strong drink to those who are even
blacklisted. The town drunkard,
the finished product of the vicious
dives, floats into their places and
often the better saloonkeeper will
try to undo the wrongs done by
those who do not and do not want
to play according to the rules. =
The mark of the better saioonist is
the concern he has far the reputa-
ton of the traffic, at large. The
heroic things done are unheard of
because the bad news from vicious
places burleS the good.
One rank but not established ru-
NOR is that there is a saloon trust,
using a working alliance between
city officials and favored licensees
in crowding aside the rights of the
unfavored and covering the short
comings of the favored.
This would truly be an obstacle
to strong local government. The
citizenss read and look into the
callings, into the means of livli-
hood and consequently the self-in-
terests of the members Of the coun-
Gil to explain the cause OF their
votes and sentiments for or against
good government. The rumor may
as soon be erroneous as right. The
believers of its truth cite that some
who are favored, as alleged, run
less respectable places than those
who were denied. The start at re-
form is commendable but the suf-
fering OF the same to degenerate into
worse results is to be condemned.
Conflicting self-interests which con-
flict with public safety can often be
seen and the man who is there to
take care of the favored self-inter-
est forgets the rights of the public
to decency premiership over self
interest OF the liquor traffic or It's
closely allied trades. The better
saloonkeeper sees this and regrets
the recoil 1t may have in store for
the traffic. We will conclude our
story of the postings" laws or con-
ditions and are thankful not to be
asked to relate the anguish and Suf-
ferings in our midst caused by the
/ lack Of their enforcement; other
wise, the preface to our descrip-
tive matters would have to be not
unlike Marc Anthony, who says
that if you have tears, prepare to
shed them now. Our answer IS
r. |. p
We will further exploit contribut-
ing causes to our plight and try
TO give some admonition to prond
mothers about the help they can
give the good cause of stopping
scandals.