Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-06-25
The Topic of the Day.


psctanl and long suffering people.
The Topic Of the Day.
The popular mind is now fully en-
crossed by the election which takes
place next Monday, on prohibition
of the sale of intoxicating liquors.
1t is in some respects the most i'm
portant contest our people have ever
been called upon to decide. There
are 30 many questions and interests
involved, that the wisest and most
lear-sighted man and woman may
we'll pause before casting ballot.
The evils Of intemperance none
will attempt to deny. The abuses
of the privilege to sell are every day
apparent. Still these are not the
only considerations before the people
to influence what to many really ap-
pears 10 be q choice OF evils.
The doubt that exists of the abil-
ity of our judiciary to enforce the
law, from alleged defects in the act
itself as we'll as from the question
able tone OF popular sentiment,
which. in affecting SO radical q
change, must be of overwhelming in
it's support to ensure success; the
prospect of a loss of the revenue
incident to the traffic and the costs
that must be paid before prohibition
can become an established fac, even
if the act is all that is claimed for it,
loss whose magnitude will be en-
HANGED by long continued depression
in business which makes every add.
tional burdeni appear to be of the
weight Of tho traditional "last feath.
err; its effects upon business inter-
ests Of the community if enforced,
and its influence upon the we'll being
of society, if as is claimed, the traffic
will be driven be hind screens, are
all questions calculated to perplex the
judgment of those who approach the
subject in all candor and with deter.
mination to fulfill tho duties OF
citizenship for the best interests Of
the community, free from subserv-
iency to the rum power or fanaticism
in the other extreme.
The STANDARD has never before
been SO unable to define line of in.
dividual duty. 1t has never hesitat-
ed when that line has been plainly
outlined. Its devotion to law ano
order is u nquestioned. Its efforts t.
enforce provisions that have beer
many years on the statute book
relating to the sale of liquor Il
minors, and of riotous conduct thai
was the national out-growth O
the traffic, have been determined
} and resolute. 1t is, now, just o.
much an advocate of sobriety ant
order, and if prohibition carrie,
will endeavor 10 secure its enforce
ment, but Notwithstanding all this
is not prepared to say that this ex
treme alternative would he Of benefi
) to the community, or that its defsa
would be misfortune.
The testimony of its effects in 9th
; er parts Of the county is con flicting
although doubtless, in the main
the truth has been told. In som.
} places prohibition certainly does pro
hibit, and prohibits well-that is. t.
the benefit of the people; in othel
places, it is quite as certain the Law
10 Of no effect, and leads to condi.
tons that debase rather than elevat.
public morals. It is quite evident
If this is trae, that we can CLEAN bu,
little information which may throw
light upon the vexed question from
those sources.
The only advice we can give is
therefore, that each voter carefully
consider the subject from both stand
points and then vote as common
sense may direct.