The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-01-18

"St ~t'oi<ii1 u1o W ~Vattr7 NJ tho
outset that previous to the year 1913,
In misguided spirit. held strongly
for the teachings OF the Anti Saloon
League. Living as do In the town
Of Amasa and being for years in daily
contact with that minute portion OF the /
Liquor Traffic that obtains here, lost
eight of the fact that Amasa was but n
mere tiy'spcck on the horizon OF Iron
County In fact no small place that
no attempt whatever is made to show
1t upon the. map Of the Upper PENN.
sula of Michigan.
Assoc.ating as ! have been in the
past with those few jealous but rabid
disciples OF the black and white an.
of map-making who claim this towi
tor their home--but carefully refrain
from investing their capital or sarplus
in local taxable properly my mind
was so dwarfed aud Auarrowed thar
fnily believed was greatly advancing
the causes of Justice and Humanity by
my activity as an Anti l confess IL
now We grew so interesting In our
morbid backbiting and spireful assail
ing of the opposition that wa lost entire
sight OF the issue
In the spring of 1911 we began our
first strenuous campaign and had il
not been for the non-sensical error
made by our advisor. the superinten-
dent of the Anti Saloon League for
this district, in drawing up the petit
tion which was to have banished for
ever the saloons from within the con
fines OF Hematite Township, would q
without doubt have learned my lesson
year earlier. But foolishly follow \
ing the Instructions of our before
mentioned advisor we brought manda-
nous proceedings against the Township
board TO compel il to rescind its action
in granting saloon licenses against our
wishes. And we felt quite virtuous at
the time. But when our case was fin
ally adjuicated the principle result was
that 1t cost the loyal few quite con
siderable number Of shekels Of silver to
learn that ours was false prophet
However number OF us aided ana
abetted by promised support from
local large employers of labor laid our
plans for revenge at the Township
election IN the Spring of 1912 Coldi,
tions conspired 10 help us and we elec.
ted our candidate for Supervisor by tho
narrow margin of nine votes. immed
lately getting to work upon another
petition which we were exceedingly
careful TO have properly drawn up.
We worked hard in a vain attempt To
secure the required number of sigma
lures of local qualified electors SO that
we might put the saloons ont of bust
ness but the men did not take kindly
10 our efforts this time az they had
learned what we were about and would
not sign anything unless they wereN
absolutely sure what il was for. But
we were pledged 10 carry che thing
through by fair means or foul and IL 4
is enough for me to confess here that
the methods resorted TO did more to
sicken me Of the Anti Saloon League
than has the past eight months OF the
dry regime. And reading further
think you will agree with me.
We carried IL through and on the
FIRST of May, 1912, saw Amasa for the
first time in its history without an OBJ
Grating saloon. Judging by my ac-
tivity in The. matter / should have been
iubilant. But | was not. Victory,
gained by the sacrifice Of self-respect,
left Il bad taste in my month The
scales began TO drop from my eyes and
/ toresaw In a measure what the result
would be. Here we were. located only
fourteen miles from Crystal Falls; a.
bout the same distance across country
from Iron River; three quarters OF an
hours ride by train from Charming and
an hours ride by train from Sidnaw.
And all OF these places were far from
being dry. IL local wet decided
hat he wanted liquid refreshment how
ridiculously easy.it was going 70 be tor
him to satisfy his craving He could
proceed 20 any of these places or score
OF others, get skin full and any
number of jugs aad bottles OF liquor
with which 70 console himself and
friends upon his return. Then Amasa
would have the result TO contend with
minus the revenue formerly paid by
the saloons in the shape OF license.
| saw my prophecy fulfilled but the
game was carried much further than
had forseen. II developed that when
Mr.. Booze Fighter" went 10 town
out ON wet goods excursion he
usually laid in q stock of other me.
re.sities' of life such as dry goods.