Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-27
LIQUOR IN ALASKA
An Interesting Discussion on Senator Dolph's
Bili-Senator Kyle Talks Plainly.

| An Interesting Discussion senator Dolph's
Bili-Senator Kyle Talks Plainly.
| Senator Dolph was in deep distress yesterday.
The Voice, a prohibition paper. had attacked
him for introducing bill which proposes to
legalize the sale of liquor in Alaska, and the
Senator from Oregon called attention TO the
assault IN the Senate. At considerable length
he told OF his interest and experience in Alaskan
matters and with fervor he appealed to the
Senate not to imagine for a moment that he
was friend to the liquor sellers who dispense
collin varnish in that somewhat remote terri
tory. The Senator said he proposed the enact
ment Of law that could be enforced. Prohi-
pltion In Alaska was impracticable; it had no
force, for two reasons: No jury that could be
lmpaneied would convict. and then tho officers
OF the law were too few to be effective. He
proposed, IN the bill which had been criticised,
10 abolish jury trials in cases where the license
law was flactured To assist in making the
seizures which might be necessary the govern
niehI ot.lcers were 10 be authorized to summon
a posse comitatus.
SENATOR SANDERS QUERY.
Inc latter suggestion brought Senator
Sanders to his feet. If" said he. ut is i'm
possible to get jury upon their oa,hs TO ind
according TO the facts in the case upon testi-
niohy undisputed, what kind of a privilege Is
part there from whom YOU would select a
Jury. ana what aid would you be likely to get in
the enforcement of the iawy'
10 TINS ana to queries by Senator Faulkner
senator Dolph replied that he thought the
license system would create such a sentiment
az would enable tie officers of the government
10 enforce a legal provision Tor the seizure and
destruction of liquors
SENATOR KYLE BECOMES INouIsrr1vK.
senator Kyle became inqu;si.iye at that
point and wanted to know how it would be pos
siDie to enforce the provisions of the Dolph
liquor bill If the United States officers could not
now enforce the laws against smuggling, and to
this Senator Dolph replied that the officers were
not numerous enough.
Senator Kyle asked how many white people
lived III Alaska, and when he was informed that
there were 4, 200 In all he wanted to know if he
understood Senator Dolph to say that the
United States government was powerless in the
presence OF 4,lG0 people-half-b breeds and
whites.
Senator Do,ph admitted that the government
could enforce the law. but it would take ire
menuous iorce-not less than twenty revenue
cutters a thousand deputy collectors and two
or three regiments of soldiers.
LIQUOR AND MoRMoNIsM
Il do not" said Senator Kyle, "charge the
Senator from Oregon with one wrong motive
In the introduction of this BILL and would
defend him from any malicious attack such as
that which has; been prin ted in the VOICE, to
winch he has referred, but, at the same time 1
10 think 1t Is mistake Tor US to stand
paEalyZed, as It were, and say that it is impos-
slbie to enforcea law of the United States
government III the presence of 400 people.
"A parallel case to this would be the existence
OF MormoniSm In the territory of Utah. Liquor
IS a curse to any territory, and the Mormon sin
Is also curse to the TERRITORY of Utah The
white population of Alaska want whisky sold in
the territory of Alaska. The Mormons in the
territory OF Utah want polygamy to be prac-
siced In That territory. Both wants are similar.
we nave enacted upon our statute books laws
relative to the suppression of poiygamy in the
territory OF Utah, and we willing to back
our declaration upon this point with the bay
onet II necessary, IN order to that the law
is carried out. claim that the same spirit
should be exercised with reference to the en-
lorcement of the law in the territory of Alaska
seeing that there Is great principle at stake
as the preservation 81 Its native inhabitants"
senator Loiph said that when Senator KYLE
hau been member OF the Senate for so long a
period as he (Dolph) had ne would understand
The lmposslbilty Of securing such an appropria-
ton as would be sufficient tor the enforcement
OF the present law.
THE INSTITUTION THAT KNOWS NO LAW
The discussion closed with q few remarks by
Senator Kyle, which Will be literally quoted by
temperance advocates. There is said the
South Dakotan, but one institution, believe.
In the United States at the present time tina.
knows no law. If the question be smuggling
;here Is force enough i'll the United States gov
eminent to suppress smuggling Ii the ques-
ton be Mormonism there Is force enough in
the United States government to suppress that.
II the question be larceny or almost anything
else, regardless of whether it may be backed up
by mora. sentiment or not, there is force
enough in the United States government to
suppress 1t. But there is one institution-ani
| wish to repeat it-that knows no law and that
is the liquor interest of the United States,
which rides over state laws and territorial laws
and which will ride over the law with respect
to the sale of intoxicating liquors to the Indians
in Alaska"