The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-06-10

Attorney
General Womens federation

great economic loss to the nation in
the loss of efficiency in the indiyid-
ual in his productive capacity. It is
a recognition of this great economic
loss that has caused the railroad cor
porations and the industrial corpora
tions to forbid the use of liquor
among their employees. The time has
come when the American dram shop
is recognized as an outlaw against
organized society, and that one OF
the great economic problems Of the
American people is to destroy this
menace of our homes and of our
citizenship
The three great dominant factors
which will achieve much for its aboli-
ton are. a high standard of christian
citizenship, an earnest and conscien-
tious effort in the matter Of law en-
forcement, and last but not least,
the adoption Of equal suffrage for
women.
EMICongressman Kendall said that
the saloon as a national institution,
is all liability and no asset; as a
local enterprise, it is all burden and
no benefit. The American dram shop
cannot be defended upon any prin-
ci2le which appeals to the moral
sensibility or the business intellig-
ence of the community. 1t is rebel
against good government, it dictates
nominations, purchases elections,
corrupts the ballot and falsifies the
returns. 1t smirches the legislature,
soils the executive and stains the
judiciary. 1t is the foe Of organized
society. It overawes the pulpit, un-
dermines the platform and subsidies
the press. 1t discredits the constitu-
fi0n 6aSniSnc tho OF q dannlnraS
the congress and derides the courts.
1t is the destroyer of domestic hap
piness. 1t brutalizes the husband,
desolates the wife, debauches the son
and betrays the daughter. 1t is with
out concern for truth, without re-
gard for honor, without reverence
for virtue. 1t has no tolerance for
church, no interest in school, no
consideration for home, no expecta-
ton Of heaven, no apprehension of
hell. The patience of the American
people is exhausted, and we shall
temporize with the infamy no longer.
All the manfiord forces of sobriety,
OF decency, Of respect for order, of
loyalty to law, OF love for mankind.
are marshaling in one invincible
phalanx to pulverize the rum power,
and they will eventually triumph, be-
SetuSS IuSll iI6llCouS wal ldl . 10 oeo
tanned by the fervent hopes of all
good men and sanctified by the holy
prayers of all good women.
Notwithstanding all OF the argu-
ments which may be presented
against the liquor business, we are
today confronted with the question
as to whether for the annual revenue
of $3.50, 100000 we will as nation
continue in this business. All of the
great nations of Europe have been
brought face to face with this proc
lem, not only as matter of the
protection OF the morals of the peo-
pie, but as a matter of the protection
of the food supply of the country.
There has been consumed in this
business every year an average of
130, 100000 bushels Of grain, enough
to furnish bread for the American
people for twelve months Shall the
United States do less than Russia?
When Russia was entering upon this
great world war, she surrendered al
most $425 ,O00, 900 of an annual in
come from the sale of vodka to make
a sober nation. Shall enlightened
America do less? Can it be possible
that those now representing US in
congress and who fill the high posi-
tons in this nation shall want the
courage to stand up like men and
make possible the destruction OF this
great evil that has been and is do
ing more in this country to destroy
the manhood and it's efficiency than
any other one agency?
Can any man give me any valid
reason why this nation should long
er continue to lend it's support to a
business which destroys her men,
brutalizes her husbands, debauches
her sons and betrays her daughters?
If there was ever a time in the his
tory of this nation when she should
divorce herself from this business, it
is at the present time.
Demands Of Good Citizenship.
est effort along the line Of law en-
forcement. 1t is the duty of every
American citizen to see that the
laws in the community in which he
lives are enforced. 1t has been a
common saying among laymen that
they are not responsible for the en-
forcement of the law-that that de-
wolves upon the officers. In certain
sense this statement is correct, but in
another it is incorrect, for there
devolves upon every citizen, be he
high or low, rich or poor, the re-
sponsibility Of knowing that the laws
are enforced in the community in
which he lives. 1t is his duty to
give to the law enforcing power full
and fair information in regard to any
infraction of the law, and a failure
SO to do upon his part. is just so much
failure upon his part to perform
his full duty as a citizen, and if any
of you men and woken know of the
violation of any law in your commun-
ity and fail to give to the law enforc-
ing power full and fair information
with regard to the same. you are fail
ing to do your duty.
| say to you that while the courts
may at times be at fault and while
there may be some provisions of the
law which are in a measure respons-
ible for the failure of conviction,
yet give it to you as my deliberate
Judgment that the failure to convict
comes more often from the standard