Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-03-06
PReuIBHfsos vs.. Nigh LICENSE.
The kxperteaee Of Iswa. - Told BY the
ttas Temperance uatea-
UEs MOINEs. Feb. "a. lsso

MRs. CoRSELE z. JESSER, Seattle,
Wash. Ter--Ay Dear Sister: Your
letter OF Jan. 3lst is AZ hand. How
| wish could fiy over the interven-
ing miles and sit by your side, in the
home which | very well remember.
| would choose q front window, that
| might see the beautiful SQUAD and
the snow-capped mountaiss beyond.
/ remember 50 many pleasant things
about my VISIT to yeu, the ride among
the stumps in the woods beyond. the
lakes. and 50 much of beauty all
about. How wonderful that these
pictures hang in the memory, but
how beautiful that they do. But to
your question. Your campaign for
loca option must include trial of
the great cause of Prohibition vs.
License"
You know have studied this ques-
ton as an abstract one of political
economy. All that | ever thought
out as science Of government, am
seeiag demonstrated by practical ex.
pertinent here in Iowa Prohibition
is right. 1t is expedient. 1t does
prohibit. In three-fourths OF our
State there is no open sale of intoxi-
eating liquors. In the remaining
quarter, including the large cities,
there is sale, more or less open, and
in some cases undisguised and defiant
These cities are just ss much in re-
bellion against the Law as was South
Carolina when Sumter was fired upon
aad they will just as surely be finally
subdued as was the shareholders re-
beilion. Our prohibItory law was
enacted less than two years ago.
During this time. as Is always the
case with all legislation, its friends
and its enemies have been testing the
strength of its provisions. We have
had many battles in the courts, in
which, in almost every instance, the
friends of law and order have gained
the day One Judge who has had
open sympathy with the liquor traffic,
Is now arraigned before the General
Assembly on charge of malfeasance
in Office. By and through this testing
process we have learned what features
OF the law need amendment to make
it wholly effective. These the Legis-
lsture now in session will give. They
could not have done it before, as the
sessions are biennial.
You ask me: Is it better TO close
the saloons in the rural districts and
regulate by high license in the
cities To which | answer emphat-
icslly No"
Success in the rural districts will
be imperiled II the traffic is allowed
10 remain in the cities. 1t will be q
border ruffian fight all the while, just
as 1t Is aud always will be between
prohibitory and license States This
is the basis of our argument for ma
tional prohibition That license
States bordering on prohibitory ter
ritory will always menace the success
of prohibition in the prohibition ter
ritory. This is just as true of the
cities in their relation to the State,
license in cities will menace prohi
bition In the rural districts. The
problem of the government of great
cities, which is ihe problem in the
American political system, can emily
be solved by the closing of the sa-
looms in the cities. This can be done.
1t is being done. But the cities will
always be the last to yield. The traf-
fic will entrench itself there after it
has been driven from the State at
large. But do not for moment con-
slider the question of surreRdering the
cities TO the traffic. Do not imagine
that any form Of license. no matter
how high" can regulate the sale Of
intoxicating liquors.
In the town of Creston, of 5000 pso-
pie, in this State, where l was last
Sabbath, there existed prior to the
adoption Of prohibition high license
ordinance-$l600 being the annual
fee paid by each Of the eight saloons.
These were Of the so-cslled respec-
table" order, but the drunkards made
were as disreputable and numerous
IS elsewhere. The whole aspect of
the place Is now changed. Every
saloon Is now closed by injunction
process. Railroad men (of whom
there are many, now save the $35
and $40 mopth which some of them
used TO spend for drinks, and wives
and children have the money, and
have the husbands and fathers, Gro
GERS and dealers in wood and coal
report increased sales, and best Of
all, a revival of religion Is in pro-
gress. and the former patrons OF the
saloons come TO church. The pro-
hibitory law has been the schoolmas-
ter that has brought them to Christ.
Be assured. my dear sister, prohi-
bition is the legislative remedy, and
the only legislative remedy for the
evils of intemperance. | beg you,
do not allow any fallacy Of license,
high or low, TO allure you from your
advecsy Of prohibition. But while
you stand tenaciously for this meas
ure, be very courteous and charitable
In your Judgment of those who differ
with you.
Some true temperance people are
advocates of high license. They act
In good faith. The whole truth"
has not yet come to them. Do not
say harsh things OF them. lam more
and more q prohibitionist with every
years experience, but am more and
more charitable to those who are not.
Remember me 10 all the ladies and
all their husbands. l remember es-
peciaily Judge Greene, whose bene-
diction fingers with me still. Very
sincerely. J. ELLEN FosrER-