Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-10-26
LICENSED RUIN.
Editorial From MiddIetoWn
Valley Register.

| noticed the other day an article
signed by minister who advocates
licensed saloons. One just now need
not be surprised at any arguments
put forth by the rum power to defeat
the doom that is near at hand. The
licensed saloon is one of the greatest
menaces to the welfare of the country.
1t pays to deal out destruction and
death and to certain extent, is pro-
tected by law. 1t can never be made
respectable by law or license, no mat
ter what restrictions are thrown
around it. A minister of the gospel
who will openly uphold the saloon
must have lost much of his self-re-
spect to say nothing of his religion.
He sets an example to his congrega-
ton that is unsafe, unholy and de-
cidedly bad. The utter uselessness of
the saloon needs no illustration. Its
influence has ever been a curse to the
nation and will continue SO long as
its doors are permitted to swing open
to the victims it creates.
There are 96S licensed saloons in
Cincinnati. The amount of ruin and
death these hell-traps annually fur
nish, cannot be calculated. Figures
are inadequate. 1t is not the money
that is spent over the bar so much as
it is the suffering entailed by the
vices that belong to the grogshop.
The broken hearts, the blighted
homes, the ruined boys and girls tell
the story beyond description. The
ruin of one boy, and thousands are
ruined every day, brings home to the
people the work of the saloon. Every
dollar paid the State for saloon
licenses is blood money. 1t is wet
with the tears of mothers all over the
land, and year by year the cemeteries
are filling up with the best young
characters, who but for the licensed
saloon, would be credit to the
nation.
West Virginia reports that crime
has decreased since the State went
dry. The wels say "bootlegging"
has increased in the State. If it has,
it is because the authorities are not
doing their duty. The people must
elect officers who will enforce the
laws. 1t can be done. There is no
law that cannot be enforced. The
saloonists know that prohibition will
put them out of business and that is
why they are now making the fight
of their lives to continue the traffic
in human lives. If the law-abiding,
Christian people Of Frederick coun-
ty want the boy to become a man
of whom they may be proud, they
must vote out the saloon. They will
soon have the opportunity and must
not sleep at the post of duty. If
they want the saloon with all it's at
tendant evils, they can vote for it
and then blame themselves for the
effect. There is no middle ground.
1t is the bottle or the boy.
When the last saloon door is closed,
the country will take new steps in
progress, the flag will look more beau"
tiful than ever and the atmosphere
will be purer. Wherever real prohi-
bition has been enforced, it has prov
ed great success. The saloon is a
tempter that is always for evil, 1t
has within it not sointilla OF good
ness. Its existence Ia curse that
blights and destroys like cyclone,
sweeping to death everything in it's
unholy path. If one good thing could
be said of the grogshop, it would have
been said long ago. Its trail is like
the serpent's, Shiny and noxious.
Let the people Of Frederick coun-
ty 60 into the battle before them,
determined to win, for they can win
if united.
The question is so plain that he
who runs can read. There is but one
issue. It is "the bottle or the boy"
The result should not be for mo-
ment doubtful.
HARBAUGH.