New Britain herald., 1919-02-03
lUN1CATED.
Z TAX-WHO PAYS TT?

rAppOII tnS lQuOI Jra1lC. l llG ignorant man, the man who has be eEome slave to the use of intONicat- ing drink and the man who profits by tits manufacture and sale.
 The ignorant man is eXcusable be- cause he knows no better. The man who has become it's slave is also in many cases excusable as he has an inherited or acquired appetite that makes it wholly beyond his power to resist constant temptation.
 But for the man or men who de- iberateIy support this evil for the profit they gain out Of it, 1herc is no excuse whatever They are enemies of social order enemies of all good, They are parasites fattening on the hearts blood of their fellows. Their business is established upon the frail- ty of humanity. and through the sap ping and weakening Of inc will DOW CT of their. slaves do these vampires thrive.
 There arc few mon who have reached middle age. who do not know many a friend who started out with a fair prOSpert in life, who has gone down to degradation through the use of alcohol. Not only that. but in ad- dition he has dragged wife and fam ily with him into the gutter.
 Alcohol dulls the sensibilitics. per ycrts morals, and makes something worse than beasts Of those who fol- low it's use to it's logical end.
 We have been accused of not haV- ing "a clear view of facts" when we advocate Prohibition. I have a clear view of a man who left home on a two weeliS' drunk, left his wife sick in bed with no money and little food in the house. She died pra cticalIy of starvation. This man tried to force his own son to drink against his will l have d clear view of another man who is unable to retain a iOb on ac- count Of drink. He cannot pass the corner sa loon or refuse the invitation of his many sO-called friends to drink with them, and when he obtains little money it goes over the bar. I have a clear view of this mans fam ily, bright children, an intelligent wife and mother, being compelled to beg for assistance from the church and town.
 I have another clear view of a man who owned a farm free of debt It all went over the local rumsellcr's bar.
 
 physicians and surgeons, whose life has been made a wreck through the use of alcohol. Unusual cases you say? Not at all. you all know of them if you stop to think.
 Not a cear view of the facts?' My view is all too clear. Doubt it not. I have so clear a view that I can see young men enticed within the circle of runs influence by the demons agents.
 I can see promising young men be- come blear eyed and hcSOttcd. ] can see women and children clothed in rags, because the father spends his earnings at the gilded bar. I can see children brought into the world, their vitality impaired, their frames frail, their intellect lacking, all on account of this habit. in which, we are told, a man has a right to indulge.
 I enter the saloon. I hear the ribald jest. the vulgar story and see the total absence of all decency and refine ment.
 I can see men made drunk and robbed Of all they have not spent then kicked into the street and from there I follow them 10 the paupcr's retreat, the Town Home.
 I can sec the ghouls who prey upon innocent young girls using the wine cup as H lure to lead them to dcstruC- ton. I can see these same girls painted court esans, lost to all sense of shame, enticing men to spend their money for drink. doing this for per centage on what is sold. I can see moro that cannot be told here in public print. And think, oh fathers and mot others,, it may be your or my boy or girl who has been thus drag ged to ruin. See! I can see enough to make the heart ache and the eye fill with tears.
 can see robbing and murder planned within the walls of the sa- loon. What is there in the way of evil that cannot be seen in connection with this traffic?
 Finally. I am clear eyed enough to see sO- called respectable mon adVO- cate the continuance of this devils work. for the sole and only reason that there is financial profit connected herewith
 And the henefciarics of this busi- ness whine and cry because they may not continue their work, and. they threaten legal action 10 prevent the aboishmcnt of the iniquty, and they tell us we are sacrificing our liberty and losing our rights if we free our selves from this curse of slow mur- der, not only slow murder but the ul- innate destruction of the human race if halt is not made.
 They talk about their business and property Being confscated. They have confiscated property and life it. self from mum berless victims. Their property rights in this netan-