University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1913-02-27
LIVING IN "DRY" COLUMBIA
The Opinions of a Travelling Salesman and
City Grocer-Which Mans Argu-
ment Do You Believe?

bench. But he didn't interrupt.
And how many young men hav'
been driven to indulge in the cocain,
habit when they can't get their drinl
of beer? That is the saddest par
about all this local option question
Is it sound policy to remove one evi
and replace it with another?"
The salesman looked straight at the
grocer and waited for him to answer
But the man on the bench simply
crossed his legs and maintained his at
tentive posture.
Hundreds of gallons of whiskey
come into your town here every week
Why don't you stop 1t? You can't.
Then why don't you collect some rev.
enue on it? You did when the saloons
were here. but now you let the stuff
come in free and the city is without
that much money, which it might have
been using for the improvement of
your streets. This local option ques-
ton is the most inconsistent, imprac-
ticable movement ever conceived and
don't see why men fall in with it, do
you?
1t was plain that the salesman was
through.
We'll, all l know is what / have
seen." said the grocer slowly and
thOughtfully. Il have been in busi-
ness here for twenty years. l know
this much-I am selling more grocer
les to more families than l did five
years ago when the saloons were here.
l have a customer whose family had
to be supported by the county when
the saloons were here. Now the man
draws wages regularly and pays cash
for his groceries. Oh, of course he
gets tight once in a while, but it is
very seldom.
Il know that the Associated Chari-
ties have had to help less persons
since the saloon went out, and it's
because there has been less drinking. |
The police records show that for the !
last four wet years S43 were convicted |
Of drunkenness, while during the past |
four dry years there were only 547
with a population increase of almost
.wO thousand
Il know, too. that almost twenty
niles of paving have been laid since
'alOOns went out We didn't have to Il
lave their revenue. Hundreds of per-
Ons have moved here with their fam
lies because it is a dry town. Hun
Ire ds of parents have sent their
oys and girls here to school because !
here are no saloons here.
''Seeing is Believing" .
Il know that my boy and my girl
an go down Broadway and even on 4
inth street without seeing someone
allowing in the gutter Even though
'me whisky may be shipped in it
D longer creates dives and hell holes
ito which my weak-willed neighbors G
e tempted. l somehow feel that my n
~ is much safer from temptation e
ithout the saloons here. Now all l n
I've told you, I know to be facts. 1t
'esn't sound SO philosophical-like as
hat you said. but I don't go much P
osophies. What see with my own Il
es l can believe" az
The sincerity of the grocer's talk
pressed the travelling salesman. He
t more than ever the desire for
at drink. He would drink two beers =.
W if they were obtainable. A.
How long have you been without -
looms here?" he asked.
Five years. We've voted them
wn twice. The first time the town ia
mt dry by about so votes and last m
ar. when We voted again, 1t went tn
? by more than ZOO"
And when will you vote again?" he
Ied
Never" FIR. be