The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-03-23
LETTER Prom sEATTLR.

To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
Since reading the account given in
your paper two weeks since of the man.
ner in which saloon-keepers prove
themselves possessed of "good moral
character" have taken some pains to
inform myself upon the subject, and to
my surprise aud ehagrin, find that the
records bear out this visitors state
ments. Gathering here a little and
there little, find that for years past
the commissioners of King county have
made it practice to authorize the aud
Itor to grant "liquor lieensesn in vaca-
ton, to persons applying for the same.
BY recent decision of Chief Justice
Lewis, this practice was declared un-
la1gfuL-he deciding that liquor license
could only be granted By the Board in
regular session. By virtue of an amend
ment to our liquor law, made by our
wiseaeres in 1875, persons requiring re-
tail liquor licenses are required to fur
nish the Board satisfactory proof of
their ''good moral character" Hence,
all persons having licenses under the
''Old practice" and all others desiring a
license, were notified through the press
to come before the Board at its last ses-
sion, prove their "gOod moral eharac-
ter" and get their license according to
law.
You can imagine the scene it created.
L am informed it was quite accurately
described by your Portland correspond
ent, only boiled do1Vn to fen individ-
uals-many of his hits being ver6atunl
words used at the time.
A great many of our very moral talk
ing people anticipated great change In
the sale of liquors in our little "hub,"
under Judge Lewis decision and the
acts of our honorable Board of Commits
sioners. Said commissioners had it in
their power to make it hot for our "lava
bed'' fellows, but they lacked the req
uisite back bone for such work. Some
twenty or thirty of the lowest dens
might just as well have been shut up as
not, and the town the better off for it.
The time and circumstances were just
ripe for the blow-many of the parties
expected it, but they soon found out
that it took but little cheek along side
of roll of greenbacks to look the COM
missioners out of countenance aud pass
, ''scot Free"
AS to the "Courtesans," they knew
just where their power lay and how to
use it. II is said that they went to work
with sang .trOid that was truly amusing.
D Their task was the most easy of all, and
i their application, doubtless, just as
. worthy, and in some instances more so,
d as any of their men competitors. They
handled their victims quite easily.
t When men make or encourage laws for
v the subjugation and ostracism of wom-
e en- and the protection of themselves,
g and then get caught in their own traps,
e it is fun to see them squirm, and too
n good joke to let pass without ventilat-
!, ing little.
d ] therefore, in common with a num-
e ber of others of our city, quite enjoyed
u Iue nlIhiatuIe OIee6e Ild6 YOUR coITe-
s spOndent aforesaid raised, and think he
d happened along just at the right time
IS to find material for letter that should
W make food for comment.
IS Let US hope that these exposures,
.e however damaging they may be to the
% fair fame of our city, may continue un-
y til women are as good as men in the
lie sight of the law. w.
n Seattle, March l6, 1877.