Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-06-25
Local Option.

The above named question is now
uppermost in the minds of the
people of the Territory and county
On next Monday the voters of Olym
pm precinct will vote on the ques
'ion as prescribed by the statute oi
the Territory, approved January %
1856, for prohibition" or agains,
prohibii"n." II a majority of the
vote o. the precinct as counted and
certified TO the County Auditor by
the Judges of election be for prohi
bition, then in this precinct, under
the statute, the following results
follow:
/. The issuance of licenses fl
the sale of intoxicating liquors in
the precinct is prohibited for two
years thereafter.
2. All licenses Heretofore issued
authorizing such sale in said pre-.
cinct are annuled and vacated.
3. The sale by druggists or apoth-
ecaries for sacramental, scientific
mechanical or medicinal purposes is
legalized and allowed under certain
restrictions as prescribed by Section
II Of the act.
4. The operation of the public
revenue laws of the United States,
and of The Territory of Washington
and the city Of Olympia, so far as
they relate to the sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors. except as limited to
druggists and other persons as pre-
scribed in said Section -, is sus-
pended for two years in said precinct.
5. The property on hand in the
shape of such liquors kept for sale
in saloons, wholesale liquor houses,
barrooms and other like places, is
contiscated, and all places SO exclu-
sively used are broken up, and the
persons engaged in such traffic and
business deprived for two years of
the privilege of engaging in such
business within such precinct.
6. That which was until the re-
suit of the election declared a legiti-
mate and legal occupation within
said precinct is, by the statute upon
the declaration of the result of the
election, made ipso tacto criminal.
Z. The Courts are prohibited from
inquiring into the regularity of the
election.
1t will be observed, Mr.. Editor,
that this statute is very sweeping in
its provisions. The election of next
Monday involves momentous conse-
quences. Assuming, without paus.
ing to discuss it, that this statute is
perfectly constitutional, valid exer-
else of Legislative power; that it is
"a rule of conduct prescribed by
! the supreme authority of the Terri
tory; that it is iu short-the lac;
it should be entitled to the fullest
and most absolute obedience from
every person in the Territory. 1t has
for its support the countenance of
many individuals whose names are
prominent in the current history of
the Territory, among whom are
the Chief Justice of the Territorial
Supreme Court, three ex.Chief JUS
tees, the present U. S. District At.
torney for the Territory, and last but
by no means least, Miss Narcissa
White. 1t is true that these persons
may have had their own particular
reasons for advocating the measure.
We imagine that one supported it
because he thought it "would re-
dound to the glory of God and the
happiness Of his people" Another
because he had learned by expert
ence that the wicked liquor men So
called were always opposed to him
from whatever devilish motive actu-
ated them. Another because it Was
a popular hobby upon which to ride
into power. Another because the
women were in favor of it, and he
was invariably on the side of the Ia
dies. Another because, as he would
express it, Whisky brought the
devil and the horror of the hemenS." :"
He knew it d" because be had been
there himself" He did net stop to
consider that the drug is, in itself,
perfectly harmless-if you let it
alone; and that there is no law iu the
world to compel any one to drink
even drop of it. Another, we may
suppose, supported it because it is a
glorious thing to be-to be-a tenn
perance reformer upon the stage and
in legislative halls. These reasons,
however good for the particular per-
sons urging them, should have little
weight with the Individual voter.
He or she must answer for himself,
or herself. if in favor of efecting
either one of the results stated above.
l say to the voter that you cannot
shield your action behind either or
all of the aforesaid prominent per-
sons. You must decide for yourself
and take the responsibility. Other.
wise you ure unfit to exercise the
lelective franchise.