Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-10-12
A Needless Worry.

After the saloon, what? There
will be an actual need for a substi-
tute for men who spend their even
ings down town, and who have no
club that they may frequent. 1t is
easy enough to say that men ought
to spend their evenings at home, but
what if they have no home, no con-
genial quarters or suitable resort?
One of the attractions is that they
only spend their money, but their
time, when they have no place to go.
Herald
After the saloon, what? echoes
the Marshalltown Times-Republican.
Why not the home first? Why not
make it a congenial and pleasant re-
sort? She lives there one day after
another and all day. So do the chill
dren, if there are any Why not
turn from the congeniality Of the sa-
loon to the congeniality and bright
lights of the place where the family
lives? For those without a family
some home is ready for them if they
desire greatly the home surround
ings. No person sincerely anxious
for home life need fail Of it.
1t is a question of resorts. The sa-
M n'c
club. 1t wasn't and isn't. 1t is and
was resort where license of lam
guage and action is permitted to the
limit: where the profane and OBJ
scene held equality and made con-
quest over decency. Aside from the
lure of the liquor itself that was the
chief charm Of the saloon. Not its
freedom, but it's utter license from
all restraint.
All the time there have been
clubs, resorts where liberty and not
license, was the rule. That they
have been too expensive is not true;
for the price of two beers a day will
pay the dues in most social and COM
mercial clubs. The Y. NJ. c. A. has
been open, with it's reading rooms,
games and longing places at slight
expense. There has been no lack of
attractive spots where men may
meet pleasantly and where the only
requirements are that they shall be-
have themselves with common de-
cency.
Such resorts are to be commended.
Not that they are absolute neces-
stiles, but because humanity is
gregarious and has good time
when it mingles. Really, there is no
occasion to put up to decency that it
must furnish places to supply the
place of the saloons. Decency can't
supply the demands of those who
have made the saloon their club
Most of them went there because It
lacked decency, precisely as GER
tain class Of patrons leave we'll man.
aged and respectfully kept billiard
rooms for the one where they may
curse and befoul the air with OBJ
scene stories and ordinations.
Get this: The man who has been
spending dime day for beer can
have his club for less than that. The
men who have devoted twenty-five
cents day may, if they choose,
have the SWEETEST club rooms in the
city at that price. A quarter day
means $50 year. That pays dues
to clubs that most men find them
selves unable to Join on account Of
expense.
Let's figure that people have some
sense and power Of restraint Of
themselves. That when the saloon
is gone many men who were unfort-
innate possessors Of unfortunate ap-
petites and unfortunate habits and
friends will find their
way out of the woods without espec-
ial guardianship; that when the sa-
loon is gone the average patron will
turn in the right direction. For that
is what actually happens when the
saloon goes.
Don't worry over the man who
hasn't a saloon to go to: worry over
the one who has the open saloon TO
pass three times day on his way to
his work.