788 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



T^A cents on the $100, or 75 cents on $1000, etc. 

 He further says that, if proper returns of property 

 for taxation were made by citizens, the rate of in- 

 crease would be hardly more than four cents on 

 each $100 of property. 



SALOONS, AND THEIR INFLUENCE IN THE 



VICINITY OF MANUFACTHRING AND 



MINING COMPANIES, ETC. 



We clip the following from Bulletin No. 

 15, sent out by the Colorado Fuel & Iron 

 Co.: 



THE STRUGGLE IN COLORADO FOR INDUS- 

 TRIAL FREEDOM. 



THE EFFECT OF CLOSING SALOONS IN THE COLORADO 

 COALMINING DISTRICT. 



" The officers of The Colorado Fuel & Iron Com- 

 pany believe in the policy adopted by certain impor- 

 tant railroads, prohibiting the use of intoxicating 

 drinks by their employes both on and off duty; but 

 many of the coal-mine employes demand their liquor, 

 and, unfortunately, some will not work where it 

 cannot be obtained. 



" Experience shows that where no saloon is im- 

 mediately available many workmen go as far as is 

 necessary to find one, and there spend Saturday 

 nights, Sundays and holidays, often returning unfit 

 for work until after a day or two of rest, and the 

 general service is always greatly disorganized by the 

 incapacity of a few. 



" With the advent of the Federal troops all sa- 

 loons in the coal-mining districts were closed, and as 

 a result the efficiency of the workmen has greatly 

 improved, the average production of coal per man 

 increasing 10 per cent. 



" This has confirmed the view long held by us, that 

 if saloons and drinking could be eliminated from 

 the coal districts, not only the miners but the com- 

 panies would be greatly benefited. 



" What I have said applies specifically to the 

 Colorado Fuel & Iron Company ; but I think, in a 

 general way, it is true of the coal-mining industry in 

 the State. " 



Denver, September, 1914. 



A PETITION WITH OVER 1000 SIGNATURES FROM THE 

 EASTERN PENITENTIARY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



Out of a total of 1478 prisoners confined in the 

 Eastern penitentiary, 1008 have drawn up and sign- 

 ed a petition which will be submitted to the next 

 legislature seeking State-wide prohibition. 



The petition is probably the strongest and most 

 unique sociological plea ever made against the liquor- 

 traffic. Without a word or even suggestion from 

 Warden McKenty, it is said, the prisoners confined 

 behind the forbidding walls of the institution signed 

 their names, and in many instances volunteered to 

 go before a legislative committee and tell how the 

 saloon evil has wrecked their lives. 



The vote was taken on Independence Day, and 

 made public today. 



On each petition was an appeal to make Indepen- 

 dence Day memorable by signing the petition. 



Three months ago the Umpire, the little paper 

 published by the convicts, started a crusade against 

 rum. Letters began to flow into the editorial room 

 telling the personal stories of prisoners who claimed 

 that were it not for whisky they would not now be 

 serving time in prison. 



The editor of the paper, himself a prisoner, was 

 so impressed with the letters that he drafted a peti- 

 tion and sent it around the prison for signatures. 



To-night he said: "I am greatly pleased with 

 results. It proves, and conclusively, too, that the 

 great majority of State-prison convicts were brought 

 to ruin through tho saloon evil. If the legislature 

 desires evidence we are ready to supply witnesses. 



Tliink of it: 70 per cent of the men here assert that 

 rum caused their downfall. Think of the wrecked 

 homes, broken-hearted mothers, wives, and sisters." 



The Umpire's editor has a bulk of letters that 

 relate the personal experiences of convicts. Here is 

 one vn-itten by a man serving ten years: 



" I am serving a long sentence for manslaughter. 

 Years ago I became involved in a saloon fight. One 

 man was killed. My dear wife was forced to suffer 

 a worse fate. She has struggled along with the little 

 ones while I have been locked up. Her heart is 

 broken ; but good woman that she is, she keeps up 

 the struggle for existence. Rum caused my down- 

 fall. Why should the sociologists and so-called learn- 

 ed men who are interested in penology go outside a 

 prison for facts ? The facts may be obtained in any 

 penal institution." 



SHE WAS WILLING TO LET HIM HAVE HER JOB. 



The following story is vouched for by the president 

 of a State Sunday-school association, and will be 

 read with intrecst by the majority of women — espe- 

 cially those who have had experiences with John 

 Barleycorn in their own families. 



In an Indiana town there were three churches and 

 one saloon. The people decided to do all they could 

 to vote the town dry at a coming election, and called 

 a great mass meeting of the Christian people to map 

 out a plan of campaign. A large crowd gathered, 

 and the subject was discussed pro and con by all in 

 attendance. A very clear and concise plan of action 

 was decided upon, an open siege inaugurated against 

 the one citadel of the liquor-traffie in the town. 



Just before adjournment there came down the aisle 

 an elderly man, well dressed, even courtly in appear- 

 ance and manner. He asked for the privilege of 

 speaking a moment, and the request was granted. 



"I do not have to tell many of the people here 

 to-night who I am," he said. " Most of you recog- 

 nize me as the saloon-keeper whose business you have 

 planned to attack to-night. You see I'm an old man. 

 This has been my occupation for years, and I know 

 no other job. If you vote this town dry you will 

 ruin an old man when he is at an age where he can 

 not possibly take up a new business. If you will 

 withdraw your effort from this campaign, I'll prom- 

 ise to run a first-class saloon and observe every re- 

 striction of law. I promise it because I haven't any 

 other job if you persist in your campaign and it ter- 

 minates successfully." 



After the saloon-keeper had finished speaking, and 

 returned to his seat, there came down the aisle a 

 modest little woman, plainly dressed, who also asked 

 to say a word. Her request was also granted. 



" I do not have to tell you to-night who I am," 

 she said. " You know me as the washerwoman of 

 your village — the woman who does six washings and 

 four ironings every week. I do this to support my 

 children and keep up my home. I have to do it be- 

 cause my husband spends his earnings down at this 

 man's saloon. Now, if you Christian people will 

 work so as to vote this town dry, thereby saving to 

 our home and children the money that rightfully 

 belongs there for its support, / will be very glad to 

 let this saloonkeeper have my job. — Cleveland News. 



A KIND WORD FROM AN 83-YEAR-OLD VETERAN. 



Gleanings has been an inspiration and a pleasure 

 to me for nearly 40 years — almost since the first issue 

 — with the exception of about a year when laid up in 

 the hospital. I am now nearing 83 years, and prac- 

 tically unable to read, and for two or three years have 

 not been able to do any thing with my hives or sup- 

 plies. These lines are for your edification. For sev- 

 eral years I published a newspaper, and I know that, 

 when a fellow hits the bull's eye, he likes to hear the 

 bell ring. Gleanings has certainly hit the bull's eye, 

 and I suspect the tingling of the bell is sweet music 

 to vour ears. 



iSelleville, Kan., .Tune 9. O. A. A. Gardner. 



