La Junta tribune., 1913-12-13


grew bigger and more active cum
mercialiy Railroads and other in
dnatriai corporations seeking desir-
able locations for shops and factories
naturally selected those In which the
economic balance would not be up
set by the temptation for their work
.rs to pay something for less than
nothing.
Mexico looked at these towns and
then at Itself When It looked at
itself II saw the saloons as II never
before had seen them. II saw them
as obstacles. balls and chains. hind
RANGES. enemies OF progress. For
( tunately. one OF the local papers
was progressive aud fearless. And
I la defiance of If. time friendships,
which Influence small town business
considerations In no small degree. 1t
{ fought for the good OF the place.
Shoulder TO shoulder with 1t on
I the firing line were business men
/ ana ldDorsFs VINO nave oe~H caught
! In the onward sweep OF that wave OF
change which induced Emperor Will
liam to declare for total abstinence
I the other day; which is causing the
/ Russian government TO investigate
ways and means 10 combat the dis
astrous sway OF alcoholism In that
vast empire: which brought togeth-
.r In London recently a gathering OF
/ distinguished scientists and physi-
clans. who. after considering the
I subject from every viewpoint. declar-
cd alcohol is not even necessary
medicine. and that its use in any 9TH
er way Is a crime against the body as
we'll as an economic blunder.
Opposed to those who were work
ing for readjustment In that Mis-
souri, town-which We have select
I'D for consideration simply because
1t happens TO present conditions ty-
pical to thos. existing In many other
plaees-were many eminently re-
/ spectacle citizens and all citizens
who were not respectable
The no-saloon forces were thor
oughly organized. At sun-up on
I election day they were about their
business of rousing apathetic sup
porters; and they kept at the work
until every name on their lists had
answered at the polls. Despite the
tact that an unreasonable blizzard
ragged all day. a total of nearly 500
votes was cast out OF a population of
5000 And when the ballots we're
counted IL vas found the drys had
won.
The same spiri, which was behind
the blooms OF Tn. 'sos-the spirit
of loyalty TO our town" which has
had more to do with the building
up OF the West than anything elise
had been put behind this cause in
Mexico. just as has been the ease In
scores OF communities beyond the
Mississippi
II was To make our town" the
best possible town that these folk
voted as they did.
As Ne hay. noted. this Is the
5lsth town under seven thousand in
habitants to banish saloons within
five years.
Most OF these towns ar. located
Ia the western par, OF the country
! he .yf MI
l.ct.d for the staging OF every cheap
novel or play ia which interest cen
tered around a barroom.
Blu, the West. wid.awak. always.
has been irst To see In the saloon
not merely an enemy of personal
welfare. but a greater enemy OF bust
ness progress and civic advancement.
The West is Kidding itself OF this
hamperinr and deadly parasite.
k..n.r eyed than the more conser-
satv. and self satisfied parts OF the
country. II Is ~aging a war OF ex-
termination against these obstacles
which stand In the way OF filter men
and NOR. s~rviccabi. Institutions.
ou, there the anti-saioon attitud.
I, no, based on ointment or poetry.
3 To thos" vigorous. forward Am.ri-
cans II l. an economic proposition
I from start To finish Jus, as they
would not permit pes, hous. TO be
haili In tn. center of town be-
cause II would endang.r III. labor
aud lives OF citizens and would keep
Z trade away. "a are they refusing
spae" 10 saloons. Philadelphia
North American.
N"" Can't Away. Tell