Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-12-20
STOP IT!

In the old days of the licensed
saloon it was difficult for a man to
engage in the liquor trade without
serious detriment to his own character
and to his own standing in the com
munity. And this Notwithstanding
that his occupation was a lawful one,
recognized as such in the laws Of the
land.
The thing which was formerly diff
ficult has become impossible. Today
there is nowhere in the United States
such a thing as lawful traffic in in
~toxicating beverages. The person who
engages in that traffic for gain, di-
rectly or indirectly, does SO knowing
that he is making himself an outlaw.
What he often fails to realize is that
in defying the law he is placing him
self in atmosphere which is certain
to poison him, and from whose effects
his chances OF recovery are exceed
ingly small.
The majority of our whiskey rum
ners and bootleggers are young men.
Youth and activity are needed in the
business. for it is q hazardous one.
Young fellows have been attracted to
1t by the glamor of adventure which
seems to surround it, and assume the
risks, not alone for the money to be
made. but for the sake Of the ro-
nance which they think they see in it,
while older and o cautious men
occupy the safer and more profitable
places in the background.
There are young men in Grand
Forks, and in most other communities
clean, capable, STRAIGHTFORWARD chaps,
who could have o an honorable
place In any occupation which they
ohose to take up, who have literally
gone to the devil through their as
sociation with this accursed traffic
Their unlawful occupation provides
them with easy money, while they are
in luck. They { separated from the
regular occupations and regular hab.
its which are essential to the build.
ing OF character. Their money, easily
obtained, is recklessly spent. The,
acquire drinking and gambling habits
1t takes but q few months for then
to find their places definitely in the
list of diaeputables.
Let the youth who is tempted b.
the prospect of easy money and ad.
venture to experiment with this traf.
fic look around him and size up the
young men Of his acquaintance who
have alrsady done so, and see where
it has landed them. Usually he vii
have knawn some of them as boys a.
clean and capable and clever as him.
self, and almost always he will fine
that they have passed opt OF tn.
knowledge al people with whom h.
wishes to associate.
The traffic in liquor would BIOL
instantly y there were no buyers.
There is nothing immoral abou
drinking liquor. This Is not said i,
an a~rgumentative way. The simpl,
fact is that millions Of excellent PEG
pie have been accustomed to the
moderate asa of intoxicants, and hav,
used them without injury to theil
physical or iaoral well-being. But i
has become impossible for anyone t,
obtain liquor for drinking purpose,
without participating in. a violation O
the law. And the man who buys
bottle of liquor today knows. if HI
has any intelligence at all, that h,
is receiving the fruits Of a flat viola
ton Of law which in all %probabilit.
has involved young men who may b,
Of the age Of his own sons. II he hal
sons, and which is speeding them o,
their way to perdition. He. the pur
chaser, c-nnot escape responstbilit.
for what is happening to those boys