State of the Cause in this Vicinity.

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For a short time after the 'Maine Law' took effect, the persons engaged in liquor selling here suspended the traffic, and declared their intention to submit to the law. But lately some of them have been trying the experiment to see how far they could go with impunity in violating the provisions of the law, until liquor selling and drunkeness have again advanced to nearly the former standard. The floodgates of intemperance and ruin have again been thrown open. - This state of things has been considerably forwarded by the opening of a new grogery among us, under the double bogus of 'Drugstore' and 'Oyster Saloon.' (For this advertisement we charge nothing.) For the credit of our place abroad, we will not say how many drunken fellows we saw here in a single day - but those things must all come out in their proper time.

The friends of Temperance here have become aroused, and are now determined to wage war against the traffic, till every vestige of it is rooted out from this village and vicinity. They have resolved that IT MUST BE STOPPED !

Now, we have a few words to say personally, to the liquor sellers here. Whenever the community are afflicted with any great evil, we hold it to be the duty of every good citizen to do all in his power, in whatever position he may be placed, to relieve the community from its effects. That the liquor traffic is an evil, no person of common sense will pretend to deny. We have all seen its deplorable results. In every community throughout the land may be found more or less of its victims; men debased, ruined, their lives rendered worthless, and their families reduced to poverty, suffering and sorrow - in these, and numerous other facts, may be seen the results of this miserable and wicked traffic. Therefore, as citizens, having the best interests of community at heart, it becomes our duty to do everything in our power for the suppression of this widespread and blasting evil.

But in our present position, as conductors of a public journal, we have an especial duty to perform.There is a responsibility resting upon us, which cannot be discharged by silence. We feel it an imperative, though painful duty, to hold up to the scorn and contempt of an injured community, the dark, hideous, and disgusting features of the business in which you are engaged. We must freely call the attention of society to the injury you are doing it. Yes, more - we must tell the public, and particularly the injured families, who it is that is thus making war against their dearest interests, by leading on their husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons, in the path of ruin. We must give the names and the facts - the public must know the names of these who are ready to trample under foot all law and all moral right for the sake of making a few pennies. There are several individuals here with whom we have no personal ill feeling, except on account of their connection with the liquor traffic. We shall be sorry to offend them; but we have a duty to do, and we shall do it - regardless of personal ?ouse ? (illegible).

We are now collecting, as fast as we can, the materials for a series of articles, under the head of 'FACTS OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC' in which we shall show up the persons engaged in it, and describe the doings at their several places of business. We shall also give a brief history of a number of the unfortunate victims of the traffic. We shall commence with one of the worst among the dealers. By this we shall probably lose some of our patronage - but what of that ! We should not feel that we were true friends to the cause, if not ready to risk something in its defence. Certainly such a consideration ought not to prevent us from the performance of duty.

We will remark, however, that if there are any among those engaged in the traffic, who will immediately, fully and honestly discontinue it, we shall not deem it necessary to mention their names. Our object is not to injure any one, but only to aid in putting a stop to a pernicious and death-dealing business.

Certain individuals in this vicinity have commenced a most violent personal persecution against the Editors of this paper; apparently on account of some articles we have published, which did not happen to suit everybody - a thing an independent press can never do. We should care little for the raving abuse and low, slanderous faslehoods of certain well known persons, were they not encouraged in their work of enmity and mischief, by one or two others, who profess better things. We have nothing further to say, in this connection, in reference to our enemies, open or secret, only that we hope to 'live through it;' we wish not to make the slightest unkind reflection in regard to those whose friendship and support were expected, but who have never given a word for our defence or encouragement in this emergency. A very few words more will express all we have to say at present: We know our friends - and we shall try to remember them.

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC, - Since the issue of our last paper, we have not seen or heard of any cases of drunkeness in the streets, and we presume our liquor dealers have thought proper to ba a little careful in their operations. There are some facts of a little more private nature, which will probably come out if circumstances require it, such as sketches of Oyster bottles ! and card tables set out with liquor among the ornaments; and various other circumstances of that character. We do not yet think it quite time to give names and particulars in full. We shall not hesitate to do so when we think the state of the cause requires it.

The Flint Journal Monday, August 10, 1936

Fenton - Almost a trainload of drouth stricken livestock from the Northeast will be unloaded at Linden and Holly today and Tuesday for Charles Crane and Thomas McKinley of this village who have spent the last three weeks in the Dakotas and Montana.

Returning here Saturday morning by auto, Mr. Crane immediately began preparations for unloading 2,000 sheep, 100 horses, and 92 head of Black Angus cattle.

The sheep and cattle will be unloaded at Linden while the horses will be unloaded at Holly.

"Dead livestock in piles was seen in a few places," reported Mr. Crane. "The bulk of the animals have already been shipped and the balance will leave the area rapidly now."

"Trucks are operating day and night hauling the animals from the farms to shipping points. The bulk of the trucking is being done by the farmers themselves and every available vehicle is being pressed into service."

"The most distressing features of the deplorable situation is the human angle. Three years of successive drouths have crushed these once proud farmers and their families. They part with their horses with tears in their eyes and invariably request good care for them. With the departure of these animals seems to go all their hopes, inspirations, ambitions and dreams.

Still ringing in Mr. Cranes ears is the gloomy prediction of the farmers with whom he delt; that another generation will have to rebuild the vast area, not them.

To understand the situation there one must keep in mind that the area has long been denuded of tress, reminds Mr. Crane. There are a few diminutive shade trees about the houses and along the creeks where they are not dried up, but nothing comparable to the most denuded areas in Michigan. Everywhere there is parched ground. The farmers exhausted their stocks of feed during the past severe winter. When this year's crop failed all hope of saving their herds were abandoned.

"There's no shortage of water; their wells are still functioning but there's nothing to feed the stock," he added, "and for grasshoppers; well, you'd think you were in a hailstorm when you drive through clouds of them along the country roads. They're eating everything that's left. Fields of corn have seen eaten to the ground."