Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1885 — Free Liquor. [ARTICLE]

Free Liquor.

"I’m out getting opinions on liquor selling,” said a sharp reporter to a saloonist. “Are you in favor of free liquors ?” “Well, I should smile,” answered the barkeeper. “I tliiuk this country is the home of liberty, and I believe every man should have a right to drink what he pleases, and where be pleases, absolutely free, and all legislation to the contrary is sumptuary and therefore unconstitutional. ” “You want to be so recorded?” “You bet your sweet life.” “All right; now I’ll take a glass of champagne; that kind you sell at 25 cents. ” It was set out for him, and he poured it down and poured another in on top of it and started off. “Hold on,” said the bartender, “you owe me half a dollar. ” “No, I don’t; didn’t you just say you believed in free liquor, and that anything to the contrary is sumptuary and unconstitutional? If there’s anything I do like to see it is a man who lives up to his principles,” and he walked out, wiping his mouth on his coat sleeve, and leaving the saloon man to study up the law points of the case.