The Stanford interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1911-1912, 1912-01-26

/ s. Lincoln County. II
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One of the plausible arguments
that sounds favorabiy to many people
is the statement by the advocates
of the open saloon that they are the
champions of personal liberty. The
following is an illustration of the
methods sometimes used by these SO
called friends of individual freedom
"Aprii 10th Pembroke voted to
abolish saloons. The night before
the election, the liquor people cor
rallied % negroes in a hall. On cleo
ton day, they were divided by pre-
cincts into two squads; with n saloon
man at the head and at the rear of
each squad. they were marched to
their respective precincts TO vote. 1t
caused several "wets" to vote dry.
If vets and drys were everywhere
separated many "wet" would be
ASHAMED of his crowd
Evidence has been coming in from
various parts of our county that
there are some 'wets" who are
ashamed of their "crowd." This is a
hopeful sign. Let n man feel the
sense of shame keenly enough and
he will choose new associations not
only that, but he will be led to realize
that n business that makes for shame
that depends for its support upon
the worst elements in the population
rather than the best, is hardly a fit
business to claim the votes of right
thinging men. In other words he
may be led to say. if it is not the
best sentiment in the community that
desires the open saloon it is not the
best sentiment in me that desires it. |
cannot be actuated by my best mo-
tives when favor its return"
Somerset's crime mas been multi
piled by the return of the saloons.
The figures recently published show
a sad increase in crime for the past
two years. In the two "dry" years,
1908 and 1909, there were 465 cases
of drunkenness and disorderly con-
duet. and 726 warrants issued. In the
two wet years, 1910 and 1911, there
were 1858 or nearly three times the
number of arrests for the same of
Tense and there were 1877 warrants
Issued.
In view of such facts which can
10 duplicated many times in other
places do the citizens Of Lincoln
ouHty really wish the return OF the
saloon? If not is it not worth white
o go to the polls on February 10th |
md say soi Reflection and discus
lion should lead to action. Votes
ire what count in this matter. The |
-ictory will not be won by hoping for
I or dreaming about it, We must act |
lpon it.
A former patron of the saloon has |
'iven the following reasons for quit
ing the use of liquor.
l. There is nothing in it. All this
lruk business is a piece of foolish
ness.
.. have observed that the young
men who use strong drink do not get
the best jobs. They are sometimes
without winter clothes; frequently
pitiful looking objects of humanity.
3. | know one mother today who
sits by a small fire and shivers; she
dimes on bread and water while her
son staggers on the street. The
young man is following in the foot
steps OF his father and his youth has
already been blasted by the use of
whisky Of "peTfect purity.
4. | have just been to the court
house and find that whisky causes
the taxpayers of this county TO pay
more money for courts than all the
thieves, highwaymen and murderers,
that have ever visited our county.
5. | have examined the divorce
rec ord and find that more homes are
destroyed by the sale and use of IL
quor than from any other cause.
6. l find the use Of liquor respon-
sible for locating u large number of
men in the penitentiary.
z. ! have discovered that whisky
has a corupting influence in politics
that il is as dangerous to the bust
ness of community as it is to the
individual.
8. A large number Of railroad and
other accidents that have resulted in
the loss Of thousands Of lives can he
traced to the use Of liquors.