"Revoking of a Saloon License." from the October 22, 1904 Door County Democrat
Revoking of a Saloon License.
For several weeks the city council has been considering the question: "Shall a certain saloon license be revoked?"
We, the undersigned pastors in this city, ask an unprejudiced hearing of the reason why we raised the question, and why we insist on a right and legal answer to it. No men in the community study the problem of the sale and use of intoxicating liquor, as do those engaged in the active ministry. Some men may count up the sum total paid into the city treasury by those who take licenses, and vainly think that the city is making a good bargain: some men may look at the buildings saloon-keepers erect and draw the illogical conclusion that the city is thus being improved; some may even dream that the saloon makes all business better: but pastors, visiting the sick, the poor, the sorrowing, the fallen, burying the dead, some of whom died in dishonor, see results of the saloon business that compel them to be forever antagonistic it, and determine them to decrease the evil following out of it, as far as they can.
The law-makers of Wisconsin, by no means radical temperance men, have endeavored to protect minors from the saloon trade. An immature boy, with a love of adventure, a desire for new sensations; with a hunger and thirst for new things to eat and drink, has no innate discretion to guard himself, and unless most carefully fortified by the wisest home teaching and example, may easily become a victim to the drink curse, while even yet an infant with the right to appeal to every thoughtful man for protection.
Boys in our city do buy, or in some way procure liquor, and become drunk. Do not all true hearted fathers feel out raged that this should occur?
The Spartan mother used to say to her son going to the battle field. Come home bearing your shield or upon it." Death was preferable to dishonor. Many a father would rather see his son dead than drunk. Ought not we all then to be roused to action when any boy can buy liquor in our city without a written request from those who have authority over him? The law on the statue book does not enforce itself any more than the hammer and the saw build the house. A law duty enacted, and entirely constitutional, may be as dead as the dry bone in the valley. A law is of use only when someone is willing to begin proceedings for its enforcement.
In the case under consideration, whether the man who paid the license money sold the liquor or not, is and must be entirely immaterial. Some one is to be held responsible, and the law determines who that shall be. The man who is willing for the sake of the profit in it, to deal in the intoxicant, is held responsible for the management of his saloon within the restrictions the law prescribes.
It has been said by way of palliation or excuse, that the saloon-keeper involved in this case, keeps the most orderly house in the city. That may somewhat comfort his friends, but it furnishes a basis for an odious comparison; for from it the inference may surely be drawn, that there are no saloons in the city that are managed within the limits of the law. The fact is on record with the city clerk, that another boy had occasionally bought liquor in the same saloon without written request from his parents.
If law is to be enforced, its enforcement must be impartial. Therefore we who sign this statement with the counsel of many law-abiding citizens, take the ground that the case now under consideration, cannot be settled, until it is settled as the law determines.
J. S. DAVIS.
L. E. OSGOOD.
S. GROENFELD.
W.G. SCHMIDT.
Q. B. STANFIELD.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
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