Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-03-28
The Failure Of the Nhi>kcy
Prosecutions.

Prosecutions.
There has been "a len, of fault
finding IA tho IrhN,. snd about the
streets and resorts, ~ tC the nnprac-
ucahlhiV 81 the Efforts 10 suppress
,ho whisky evil ia Monicsano.
Even one minister. while visiting the
place. was good enough To assure
tho audience that n great deal Of
ycrv uuchrs,inn work had been done
ma the pincs IN the uame Of Temper
ance snd the gIsi Of all that was
ra,d ur Written on this growing line
was. that the persons who were ac-
lively engaged ~ All effort to nd the
place OF the moral aud social leper.
holes called saloons, wero "a set Of
fools aud sens-less fanatics.
Jus, ~, And tho sensible ones
are are those who VT still and let the
evil continue. and do nothing but
find fault Because Montesano was
unfortunate enough TO have num-
her Of men, yclspt lawyers. who are
public-sp'r,ted enough to throw
sand IN the eyes Of the people as to
what u law. aud 10 take every posi-
bic advantage 81 the weak or obscure
points ia law tn screen and sustain
saloons. we suppose we are simply
90 submit aud have tho authority of
tho people set at naught, and false
pretenses ia law foisted OH us. and
be compelled to stultify ourselves
aud every principle wo hold dear;
aud for WHAT Simply because men
who hate and defy laws designed to
Protect the sacred rights OF the peo-
pie have settled among us and are
able 10 control. dclude. inveigle and
subsidiko all tho strongest public in
huences, 40 ms to make them serve
the most damnablc institution ever
thrust upon an unwilling people.
The effort TO fastcn tie RESPONSE
bility Of failure upon the earnest
temperance people. who spent their
time aud money in m effort TO get
legal redress for their wrongs, is n
gross perversion Of truth, and II
shameful injustice. The real cause
OF failure was that their interests
were betrayed. When in spite Of
everything. the saloon keepers were
held 10 answer on charge, the pen
atty for which was not less than $500,
they were dismissed on ~ 50 bail |!
When the attorney who was hired
and paid to prosecute in the interest
Of the people directed that the fur
Their prosecution 60 to the Hoquium
Justice. tho complaining witness OBJ
jected. fearing n change Of venue
and other diiatory and disastrous
moves. but was assured there was
no danger. no change OF venue could
be taken. and il was a sure thing,
etc. The cases went 10 Hoquium.
There. after n long and very friendly
private chat between the counsel for
the people and the regular attorney
and advisor Of the saloons, the cases
were brought up in court, and,
presto! q change Of venue was
ssked 10 the nearest justice and
granted. contrary TO the plain intent
Of the law. and the attorney for the
People sienalixed himself and marked
himself forever. by the mastery in
soti.iiy be manifested in defending
his clients rights. To signalize the
case. . second change Of venue was
asked aud obtained on an affidavit Of
the defense citing that the neares,
justice WAS al interested party! Not
. particle OF svidsnce 10 far as we
have ever heard was offered by the
defense TO satisfy the justice. and
this most sdoubiable temper.
ance lawyer" 20 far ns We have
learned. never made any effort to
have them bring forward any cvi.
dence 10 subsiantia,e such a state.
ment. Obi some people will say.
their affidavit was enough! Most
assursdlyS when men are open de-
hers Of law aud of every principle
that protects society from crime and
dsbauchery. their certified state
ments should never DO questioned
for moment To cap the climax,
this asiute defender Of the people
gives up the fight by allowing the
cases 10 DO sent 10 court whore he
knew they could never 10 tried. II
he believed his own statement, that
NJ. y. Luark. the City Justice, was
snondescript Of tho jay-hawk. court
breed. he showed q miserable, COW
ardly mind. in allowing the cases
sent there, for he was paid for pros.
tcniing the cases 10 an issoe, aud he
knew they could moi come to an is.
sue In NJ i. Luafks court. II (as
10 now probable) he knew all the
time that NJ. +. Luark was bona
hie the City Police Justice. he knew
tho cases could not he tried before
him. because they were not cases
under the city charter. but under