Las Vegas Optic

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1914.

PUT 'EM IN THE PROPER COMMITTEE
It is declared by one of the leading newspapers of the state that bar tenders enrolled as members of the New Mexico Educational association at its recent session in Albuquerque and assisted, by their ballots, in securing the convention for that city in 1915. While The Optic believes the presence of a large number of school teachers in an up-to-date place like Albuquerque would mean a stimulation of business in the dry goods stores, curio shops, other mercantile establishments, and places where ice cream and soda water are sold, it is slow to admit a conviction that the saloons would derive similar benefit.

In fact, were it not for the well known reputation for truth of the paper making the assertion, The Santa Fe New Mexican, The Optic would not believe that the saloon men of Albuquerque could be induced to contribute $1 each, if by so doing they might retain the convention for the Duke City for the next million years; unless, of course, they might contribute out of a spirit of civic pride.
Why did not these gentlemen, as members of the association, cast their ballots against the resolution favoring the submission of a prohibition amendment to the state constitution in 1916, which was passed by the teachers? Why did not some of them find their places on the refreshment committee?
Since these gentlemen have joined the association and cast their ballots, it might be well to put some of them on next year's program. Valuable papers upon "The Effect of Iced Tea Upon the Imagination," "Milk-A Harmful Beverage," "Water--Nothing Better for the Bath" and similar subjects might well be written by these soft voiced dispensers of hard drinks who have taken time that should be devoted to their business and freely donated it to the educational association.