Empty Stores In The City

Editor Argus: - There have been several attempts made to show that with prohibition enforced no difference will be noted in the number of stores standing idle in the city, but as usual the promulgators of that sort of twaddle give no reasonable data or showing of any kind to base such so called arguments on. We are as usual asked to take their empty word for it. Let us then for once look upon this question fairmindedly and reasonably. There are to-day idle the following stores. One of Mr. Fantle's on S. Main st., one of Mr. Kitson's, on N. Main st., the store of Mr. J. D. Heinrich on fourth st. has been idle since the day he quit keeping a saloon a year ago, one of the St. James block stores is only used when an auctioneer has a bankrupt stock to unload or when the constable sells the effects of some unfortunate for Shylocks pound of flesh. Near the Cook House is the empty store of Mrs. Devany, a widow who has her all upon earth invested in those four walls. Now, if these stores are already empty and cannot be let at a paying figure, how much easier can they be let when all those places, now occupied tor saloon purposes are thrown upon the market? Will not every business building in the city depreciate in value? Now let us look at the men who are clamoring so industriously for the welfare of the dear people, who want to save you so much money by throwing over $40.000 of the County's revenue for you to replace out of you pockets, who want to create a demand for buildings now idle by forcing others to lie idle. Do they own any? Are they men who have done anything to help build up our city? Are they not notorious failures as business men? in short should local prohibition carry in ur county and this liquor tax be lost to the taxpayers, will it cost these men anything? These are questions for men of sense to answer to themselves on Monday next. Will property owners see their property depreciated in value and their taxes raised? Will the mechanic and the laborer vote for a lesser demand for his services and thus reduce his income? You are certainly free to do so, if , however, you don't want that state of things, then vote for the manufacture and sale etc.