The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-25


Praye- Meeting Topic of the Young
Peoples Christian En-
deavor, etc.-for February 81:
DISCRIMINATE the Saloon! Why?
How ?'-Hab. 2.1-14
The social and moral welfare of
the people has become a national pas
sion. Whatever promises to make the
lot of n1ankind freer, easier and han
pier, can get a majority vote now
adays. In his era of insurgency
s,hoarys traditions and established in
kst1tutfonss have small consideration
when they come into conflict with the
common veal, Within the past gem
Grafton there has grown up a convic-
ton in the minds of 4 great MANY
persons, and not. all of them total
abstaincrs and temperance cranks"
either, that the liquor saloon is q
baneful influence in the nations life
The institution has lost face" 1t has
everywhere been put on the defensive;
and in many places it has been driven
entirely out of business. The verdict
of the people. it may in all fairness
be written, has come to be that the
saloon is factor that hurts, and not
a factor that helps. in our modern
social life.
The saloon is a mother of crimes
and the silent partner of every ex-
listing social evil.
Extravagances are taught in the
school kept by the saloon keeper. Men
spend their money without return
the foolish and vicious treating hab-
| it, is a real evil, learned at the bar
and it has led many men into careless
practices that have spelled disaster.
Even the most biased opponent of
the saloon will scarcely claim that it
is a social center worthy d the COM
mitteGly, the man who seeks his social
| intercourse in the saloon, steps down
from his proper sphere. The Brewers
| Convention itself would scarcely care
to offer TO the world, as typical OF the
American standard of society and fell
lowship, the average saloon.
The viciousness of the saloon aside
it is a prolific source of dissipated
time. The evenings spent there are
ception of what constitutes a good
time. The conversation and social
ideals of this poor mans club are
low they do not make Cor culture, pa
triotism or righteousness.
Home life in our time has many
enemies; and one of the worst of them
is the saloon. 1t steals the time and
interest and money of a man which
belong to his wife and children.
Every drunkard means a spoiled
man. This signifies more than that
there is one man less in the commu-
nifty. 1t represents u blow struck al
the welfare of the state. 1t subtracts
from the power and the purity of the
race. We cannot injure or sacrifice
individual manhood without serious
hurt to all mankind.
The coming of the kingdom means
the going of the saloon
The end of the saloon will be the
beginning of the safety of our youth.
Every boy pledged 20 total absti
hence is a vital blow at the saloon.
The good fighter must know how t.
, wait HIS should be the faith which
should bide its time indefinitely
, should not expect victory in a day
! but he should expect it ultimately II
, patience he should win his soul, and
: triumph over his adversary as well
! The church's war against the saloon
and it is no small victory that prac
tically the whole church is at wa
against it-calls for long, hard fighting
; and much weary waiting But tn
! outcome is as certain as the stars il
l their courses. Ours is the winning
side, because it is the side Of purity, o
pity, of justice, of suffering mankind
and of a long-suffering God.
j Cuba in 1914 sent s1,203,421 WORT
l of pineapples weekly to the Unite
e States.