Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, has an ordinance requiring the
photographs of known habitual drunkards to be placed in all the
saloons in the city, with a notice forbidding saloon-keepers to
sell liquor to them, on penalty of losing their licenses.
This new sort of rogues’ gallery is growing rapidly, but one
addition to it was made voluntarily. It is the photograph of a
poor fellow who begged to have it placed with the others, as his
only chance of freedom from the tyranny of strong drink.
Set off against this pathetic story, how inhuman seem all the
arguments for the licensing of saloons! The pitiable victims of
the saloon-keeper would gladly escape his snare, but usually
they can not. The insidious liquid has robbed them of their
willpower. It has planted in their blood a horrible desire which
nothing but more alcohol can satisfy.
(2816)