The Detroit times., 1915-03-01
Montana Contractor
Would Close All Bars
At Dark
MORE EVENINGS
SPENT AT HOME
With Grog Shops in
Darkness, Hearths
Will Glow

GREAT FALLS. March with
tho question OF prohibition confront
ing tho people OF Montana and a
dozen and one means OF regulating
the saloon business being offered.
Il has remained for ID. J. Burke. the
well-known railroad contractor,
known throughout the northwest as
"Pick Handle" Burke. TO offer an
original proposition In the regulation
line In his so-called daylight sa-
loon" or as he phrases Il. daylight
closing" Mr.. Burke gained quite a
BIT OF favorable publicity recently in
his advocacy OF the actual settle
ment" rule I'm the sale OF state lands
and there Ia a promise that his ac-
ton In championing the daylight
closing proposition will get him
even more general attention. for IL
n decidedly more unique than the
former.
Mr.. Burke handles hundreds OF
men In his railroad work each year
and he has been In the business for
more than q quarter OF a century.
having built millions OF dollars
worth OF railroad grade and met
with men under all conditions. He
knows the evils OF liquor in all
their aspects and he knows as well
o. any business man can know the
worst side OF the saloon because he
has seen the effect on his employees.
Burke's Idea.
Just now while everybody Is con.
sidering how to regulate the liquor
business In Montana. said Mr..
Of daylight closing7 Some OF the
Burke, In discussing the question.
why not consider the practicability
cities have been vigorously trying TO
enforce night closing with more or
lees success, but when measured
from every angle with a good deal
more failure than success. Some
are arguing prohibition some favor
only what they call temperance;
some believe In the wide-open town.
and yome would have nothing but 3
per cent goods sold, and so on. ad In.
Gnitum. But the impracticabillty OF
most OF their plans has been proved.
q fact that hints they lack some
thing that II yet TO be found before
wo will have the correct solution
of the liquor question. | believe the
plan. have In mind will meet the
case very nicely and with a years
trial. I am convinced Il was the
greatest benefit that had ever come
10 the saloon interests. II would
place the liquor business on a. basis
that would make and keep Il as re-
spectacle az any other business and
mako II possible for saloon man to
ret some time at home with his fam
ny. am In favor of what have
termed daylight closing and | be
ltove that II some good legislator
win take hold Of the measure. frame
. bill along the lines suggested.
urge II N a compromise on the adj
vocates OF prohibition and insist on
q being given a trial. he will do
more 10 solve the liquor problem
for Montana than will be done in
any other way.
Daylight ciosino."
BY daylight closing I propose
that the saloons be opened at s
o'clock In the morning and closed
promptly ut Z o'clock In tho evening
would attach a penalty for viola.
tion that would be real penalty.
would have forfeiture OF the II.
csnse privilege on conviction OF VIC.
lstion OF the regulation laid down in
the statute. thus making the license
3 real business asset. They tell me
IN Great Falls q license privilege Is
now considered worth something
Ike $4,000. No business man would
jeopardiEe that much property for
the chance to sell four-bits worth OF
bose. Make proof OF a revocation
Of license on any holder bar
against any future acquisition OF n
license 80 that 20 one could lose q
license In Great Falls and then go
20 Helena OF Lewistown or Butte
and buy some other place. because
q ought TO be prama fscea evidence
hat one who violates. regulations In
/. Great Falls doesn't have much re-
gard for law anywhere and wouldn't
b 3 good saloorist IN another town.
II have been I'm the contracting
business q good many years and I
have como to the conclusion that
there 10 something In human nature
that must be eliminated before we
can have successful enforced pro
hibitory laws. I am not convinced
that prohibition would lessen crime
20 any noticeable extent. II might
Lessen Il but II might put more peo-
pie In the insane asylum. have
observed that people, as they are
now constituted. will get whisky:
that II. they will get what they call
whisky, and sometimes they get a
coscoction that would better serve
ths purpose OF killing potato bugs
than Of stimulating the gray matter
m the hufnAn brain. II prohibition
Win not lessen crime; II II will not
materially change the conditions; N
n will not give Ms fewer criminals
and more sane. clear. active-binded
men, then there r. reasonable
rruund for tho belief that prohibition
10 not the solution OF the liquor
problem m the present day.
Can't BE Regulated.
We cant regulate temperance and
morality and virtue into the mind
q the human being Tho mental
combination Is srch that to the pres.
ant Day there has never been found
nnyfhing that could change the
fspnd Oh the thought Of the race ex.
cept the principles instiiisd into the