The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-10-29
THE PEOPLES FORUM.

little further the question that confronts
US and which we as men and citizens
we must settle. We must admit that all
the money that is in it has preponder-
ating influence with some minds, while
with others it is the love they have for
it as beverage. But does it paw from
financial standpoint? True. the reve-
nue. received from the traffic amounts
to S225, 900, 900 per year. That is large
amount, but over against this put the
traffic which is vastly larger. Does it
pay to spend from $40 to 500 to get one?
No one would advocate such reckless
waste, such unbusinesslike methods with
any other business. 1t costs $50 each
for every one in the United States. 1t
cost 1000 murders. 1t caused go per
cent of the crime and produced one-half
of the convicts in our prisons yearly.
1t is killing nearly 1000 men daily Are
you willing to help in this destruction of
human life that is more appalling than
that caused by the war in Europe. Every
vote for the saloon is that much in favor
of this wholesale destruction. Do you
think the saloon will add to your bust
ness and give you more money? Sup
pose it does. Are YOU willing for the
pittance thus gained to help debauch
the young manhood of the country? The
saloon is the worst debaucher in ex-
istence. 1t is always mixed up with
corrupt politics and that is a curse to
any community. Two thirds of the area
of the United States, or two million
square miles. are now under prohibi-
ition. About one-half of the popula-
ton are under some form of prohi-
bition. Ten states now have state
wide prohibition. Many more have
it in part. Nearly all the counties of
Kentucky have local option. | know it
is said it does not prohibit. Do the laws
against horse stealing prohibit it abso-
lutely? Should then the laws against
stealing horses be repealed and every
thief be allowed to steal all he wants
to. An ak, no matter how sharp it is,
will not,cut unless there are pair of
strong arms to swing it. A gun, no mat
ter how good it is. will not shoot unless
there is man behind it. 1t drives it
into the corners and makes it the outlaw
it is in reality. That it is great help
any man who is willing to investigate
can find out; or if he is willing to accept
impartial evidence and trustworthy he
must be convinced, if he is capable of
being convinced. An operator of one of
the West Virginia coal mines wanted to
see the difference in the working power
of some of his drinking men under wet
and dry conditions. He selected eight
miners, all drinkers, and the pay roll
for June, wet, and August, dry, tell the
difference in the earning of the eight
men. They worked under the same con-
ditions both months. They had as great
opportunity to earn money in June as in
| August. Some of them doubled and
some of them nearly trebbled the
amount which they earned They
were more efficient; they were better
workmen. Sobriety gave them more
money not to be spent on liquor, but on
! wives and children.
Mr.. Farmer, wouldn't you register a
kick-yes some hard ones-if a man
were to drive lot of foot-rot sheep
through your farm, even on the high
way? Yet you allow your boy to be ex-
posed to the awful temptations"of the
saloon without kick. You say it makes
good market for corn. The amount of
, corn that goes into whiskeY would not
4 raise the price of your crop the fraction
of cent.
5 | was crossing a bridge one evening
over one of the canals in Niagara that
feed the various industries, sThe body of
man suddenly came to the surface.
A number of people were on the bridge
the cry was at once ruised, Man in
water, get him out!' A woman seeing
the body floating screamed to a man
. nearby to save him. His reply was
. "Oh, hush, woman; it is not any of
yours" but it's somebody's; save
him." Thousands are floating down the
awful stream of drunkenness but a gen.
, eral Indifference prevails.
plead for the children of the land.
There are "a, 900, 900 of school age in our
country. Let them have the benefit of
scientific instruction concerning the
effects of alcohol on the brain and body
of the drinker. Enforce the law, No
t law will enforce itself.
Sometime ago distinguished Japan
zee officer visited New York and a mem
D Der of the city government, who had
been in Japan, wanted to show him
around. A man stopped milk wagon.
a 'Is that an officer making an arrest?''
: asked the japanese. mo, he is a milk
S inspector and his duty is to see that no
: impure milk is sold.'
"What is impure milk"
b at is mixed with chalk and water. y
e us the chalk poison?"
/. "Oh, no; it impairs the quality of the
o milk, that is all. -