'mu HIST II EXTRAS D IN ART MERIT
In clothes that have achieved the unmatched reputation enjoyed by
5TR0USE & BROS’. HIGH ART CLOTHES.
They are not to be surpassed in style, workmanship and quality. Guar=
antee with each suit, same being replaced if not satisfactory. $15.00 $17.50
$18.50 $20.00 $22.50. We have all the latest weaves and textures also at
$7.50 $8.50 $10.00 $12.00.
THE SCHOOL BELL
Calling children to their labors also sounds the call for
^ new clothing.
The boy doffs his vacation suit and dons his school
dress. There is nothing more appropriate than cloth=
ing adapted to special occasions and we make it our
study $2.50 to $10.00.
Hawes Hats stacy-a dams
SHOES
$3-00 $5.00 $6.00
HEN’S FURNISHING
is an art that keeps moving onward with each season.
New things are daily coming to life. We make this our
study and endeavor to please and satisfy every cus
tomer. In this space we cannot describe in detail our
line of fashionable goods, but suffice to say it is the
finest ever brought to this market.
Manhattan
Shirts .
$1.50 $2. $2.50
■
The NEW STORE
I
NEXT DOOR BANK OF NEWPORT.
PROTEST AGAINST LICENSE.
Editor of Independent: —
Will you allow me a few words upon
the “Petition for License,” which ac
cording to your issue of Saturday last
is now “going the rounds.”
I would greatly prefer not to say
anything publicly upon questions that
pertain more especialiy to our public
affairs, though, as a citizen, I claim
the right to speak as any other.
The sad spectacle of returning to
the conditions that prevailed here,
when I first came two years ago, in
cite me to make a plea to our busi
ness men to stop and think into what
they are rushing not only themselves,
but all the rest of the community, for
at least two years, and likely longer.
I shall not take up your space in a
lengthy argument on this point; but
would have greater influence, I be
lieve, in appealing to the hearts and
consciences of true men, and women,
too, though strange to me it is that
there should be any wife, mother or
sister to encourage or uphold a move
ment to bring back the saloon.
I am familiar with the two great
“ * reasons given for the return to the
license system. The first and greatest
js that we have not found the no
license system effective. But has
there ever been a law or system
against crime, that was absolutely ef
fective? Yet this system of no-li
cense must be singled out and re
pealed above those of theft, murder,
arson, rape, etc. Now the answer
immediately occurs to every one that
if all our officers of the law would
faithfully execute their sworn duty,
from the Governor down, we would
find things very different. There are
many towns that are demonstrations
of this in our own state, but if this
were not the case, the relief from the
evil conditions of drink would not be
found by opening the flood gates un
der the name of license. I have never
heard any one claim that license even
restrained or tended to lessen the
drink habit. Yet that it is the very
argument so continuously used against
no license.
It is true that we have blind tigers
here, and there have been many dis
couraging features of the case; yet
there have been many encouraging
ones also. But, let us stop and think
a moment. Will these conditions of
drunkenness and disturbance of the
public peace and comfort be improved
by license? If so, why is there such a
great effort on the part of those wjio
violate the existing law to have the
law repealed?
Now, the following facts should be
thoroughly weighed. The conditions
of no license have prevailed only a
short time, especially in comparison
with the time that those of license
have. Its benefits have not had the
chance to be thoroughly demonstrated,
financially, in the way of refinement,
but especially morally and religiously.
The law has not been even fairly en
forced.
Again, the evil conditions of blind
tigers, etc., are not the results of no
| license, but of license, and yet, with
all this, 1 aver that conditions are far
better than when I came here two
years ago. Now there is a great sol
| icitude on the part of many. Are we
to be thrust back into this maelstrom
of evil conditions that will grow worse
and worse? Is the return to the sa
loon an upward movement?
2. The other argument, which is
the stronger with most men is the
financial one. The claim is made,
that the saloon is a necessary evil;
that without license our city govern
ment has by far Insufficient means tc
meet its running expenses. And here
the matter might as well be met fair
ly and be decided conscienciously bj
! every business man. Is not this effort
i to avoid a tax for legitimate expenses
! of our body politic, the explanatior
largely of the attitude of many whc
' favor license? If this be acknowl
edged, is it not further a fact that this
is a vicious principle that will bring
j financial suicide to the city govern
! ment? What, for instance, is the
| amount of the cost of the running ex
1 penses under the license system, foi
j the fees to the marshal, magistrate
the keeping of the prisoners in the
I jail etc., and bow much is left of the
amount received from tbe licenses,
after all the expenses of the adminis
tration of justice have been taken
out? It might be interesting to some
of our business men to figure that up.
But who also pays the license finally
on every drink? Not t ie sal >on keeper,
because he must make his profit
above all expenses. Furthermore
have not our city and our citizens
privately paid out more to the de
graded poor than can ever be saved
under the license system?
One more word on the business
proposition. It is claimed that the
license system will bring more custom
to the business houses. There are
many facts to disprove this; but I
would only call to witness each man
in his own business here within the
last two years—and there have been
poor crops these two years besides.
Has not business been as :ood, if not
better than any other two years un
der license? The reports of our two
banks, I believe, show an increase of
business, and these are pretty good
thermometers of business prosperity.
In view of the forward progress we
have made in morals, and other sal
utary conditions, can each man feel
that he wants to return to the saloon?
Will there not be more drinking? Will
there not be a larger waste of money?
Will there not be a larger corruption
of morals both public and private?
And that at a time when our state as
a whole, has made a mighty step for
ward in this direction.
If, as many say this question has no
standing or importance, why will it
not down? Though beaten again and
again it has been brought up contin
, uously, not politically, not in one sec
tion of the country, but all over our
broad land? The only explanation is
that it affects our very vitals, it is at
the bottom of all true safety and
; business success. No one wants a
; drunkard in his employ, and yet we
are about to return to the wholesale
i manufacture of them again.
The open saloon I believe, is the
greatest obstacla to religion and the
progress of our churches. This is in
fact the occasion of this communica
tion. Were it simply a moral or po
litical question I would prefer to
throw the responsibility upon the
citizens—tho’ I claim the rights of a
citizen, when, according to my own
conscience, I think best to exercise
them.
I have not been influenced to this
action by any party or person. In
fact no other person knows of my in
tention to pen this article. Has not
the ti e come for Christian men and
moral men to set their faces for a bet
ter public sentiment? Has any Christ
ian felt that he has done that which
honors his Lord and helped his fel
low men by putting his name to that
petition for license? If not, then
take your name off.
What is the use of trying to build
up the cause of morals and right liv
ing with one hand, if with the other,
we pour that upon it which burns
more furiously than oil—and that
hand which does the pouring the right
hand rather than the left.
Yours respectfully,
Lee H. Richardson.
SPENT HONEYMOON HERE.
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin R. Settle spent
a pleasant honeymoon of several days
in this city and left on the noon train
Friday for their new home in Little
Rock, where the groom is practicing
law being a partner of Judge T. J.
Oliphant.
The newly-wed are nice looking
young people and we hope their lives
may be cast in pleasant places. The
bride waB formerly Miss Georgia
Crow of Searcy, and the wedding
took place in the Methodist church of
that city, the service being said by
Rev. P. R. Knickerbocker
RA GES RELEASED.
J. Rages, the negro charged with
breaking into the residence of M. W.
Burkett, was released Friday after
noon, when arraigned before Justice
G. L. Robinson. The defendant was
charged with petit larceny, but the
prosecution failed to file a bond for
costs. G. L. Grant appeared as at
torney for the defendant.
I u I iLBUiirwmmr m i—i—n i ■■■■w m iiwii ■■■—w—11—rmr-m-—
STATE ENCAMPMENT PROBABLE.
Major General W. H. Haynes, who
also won the title of colonel in the
Confederate service was here Friday
on his return to Little Rock from
Batesville. A more interesting talker
than the doughty commander of the
Arkansas State Guard seldom visits
Newport and to talk with him is al
ways a pleasure. Major Haynes has
done a great work for the state milit
ia, having organized 30 companies in
the different towns of the state and
this military force is to be increased
by two troops of cavalry.
He also interested himself in what
is known as the Dick bill, which has
already passed the national house and
is ready for final reading by the sen
ate. He was instrumental in the
framing of this measure, which has
been taken up by the administration
and is certain to become an enact
ment, when congress convenes this
December. Under this bill, the mil
itia is provided for like the regular
army and when called out for en
campments, transportation and other
expenses are paid for by the govern
ment and the members receive the
same pay as the regular army.
Major Haynes is looking ahead to a
state encampment next July to be
held in Little Rock and is hopeful that
it may be made an event of general
state interest.
COAL! COAL!! COAL!!!
Call 21-2 rings and leave your order
for coal. Full weight and prompt de
livery. M. K. Upshaw.
Nice kisses at Huffman’s.
We want you to inspect our new
stock before laying in your fall sup
plies. Our goods are all right and
our prices must be the lowest. Chas.
Meyers’ Great Bargain Store. 125btf
Colonel Geo. W Murphy, attorney
general, who was to have addressed
the Confederate reunion at Batesville
Friday was physically unable to at
tend, aside from pressing duties in his
| office.