The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-15
q sHUTOUT WHISKY
/. r1eal Option Bill For the
Legislatures
,oesrY SAID TO FAVOR II.
$1,000 - Cover Dsfssts Of
& ....,.r Kssesmsst-Kash Lscsi-
:, - Dseias tns Qusssien-

s,.,ov problem viii be brought
90 legislature which conveaes
q! <'.s,xrsa today, and q bill, framed on
J. - ~ local option, will be present.
= |. s. ,h.f body for enactment Into law.
I rese Of attack upon the saloon has
j -. formulated by committees appointed
-. Z rueeting In this city December a.
- !. i claimed a careful canvass OF
legislature has revealed that the
-. - sehaK OF restriction OF the
s....- franc viii he successful In ex-
sse.~,.m Of the principal features of the
S l-.--..sa Law a member OF the reform
-sgxuent says:
ssrx take the simple. old-fashioned
s...rs which Il the basis OF every IL
-. Iaw. that the saloon exists not by
s14ss o; right, but because there are
.mtuus ard appeiites which demand It.:
ssst experience and observation lave
.-.r~s Inc dangers Of such a traffic and
4. secsssity OF restricting its evils: that
: 4 ! ouesticzabie business which ex-
~ only because some men demand II.
x..,xinx these conditions TO our theory
y merpment, We claim that this bust
- conceded 10 be questionable. should
81, sxfst In any community unless the
y ss,orlty OF the voters OF that community
s.nt IL; that the policy OF every enc OF
- municipal and town corporations en-
-. Ara every other question OF vital
r1blc Importance. should be defined by
z majority OF the stockholders, l. G.,
su1ers. Hence our proposed law provides
- ciear decision OF the question by
~ voters OF each community. We have
fnuea law which will not add single
1f,,r Of expense to any community by
y eperatioR
I'VE propose that at every town or
~ election there shall be printed apon
f1<yy ballot the simple question Shall
Ir1uss be granted for the sale of insoxi-
1tl3nf liquors In this town Tor city)g
~ voter writes Yes or No In answer
i he question. and the result In each
nm or city determines the policy of
III town or city during the official term
1klcA fellows. This Is the Massachusetts,
sae and Is in vogue I'm most other rom
pG5tabtien states. Where saloons are
esstsd by the majority. licenses are
patted under restrictions fixed by TIE
usse and the various municipalities.
IL The proposed township organization
e1sme becomes law, the plan above out
nd viii cover the entire state, but
i ease such cannot be accomplished, the
numiitee has embodied IN the bill to
y admitted the necessary limitations
~ authority for granting licenses In
~ rural districts. This was the weak
ppiIt Of the territorial local option law
4 u.s. upon which IL was declared I'M
epasitusIenal. The ordinary unsncortso-
uted voting precinct is not q govern
ufftai unit and cannot by an election
any policy for itself. but is subject
CONTROL hy county commissioners elect
q Tor the entire county. We avoid the
haiurs which nullifiesi the old law. and
~ aeftnpsish the same result. by re-
SaiIfng to be submitted with an, appli-
ua1n for saloon licenses from any rural.
HNnet. certificate of consent signed
"a number of legal voters of that pre-
s1H equal TO or more than a. majority
ine number OF votes cast In that pre-
~ q the last general election. This
seeouphshes the desired result without
~ nkeesSity OF an election.
ne expect that the practical working
sais proposed law will result In abol
Meg the whisky traffic in the rural COM
sa'les and In the towns where a ma
xaiy sentiment is opposed TO the trasfe,
ssAie IN the larger cities the business
=" continue under high license and
nxss restrictive legislation
ine above are the main features OF
= 1aS, a few clauses have been added
general restrictive character. espe-
49, aimed at the ladies' entrances
s.'naatg. PROSTITUTION and other features
sa business conceded by every one to
- tsffacfo9is. One clause will dehar for
ss-fs and law-breakers from receiving
tasess AID The bond required from an
FssAAas VIII be more inclusive than the
sssshs merely nominal one. A valuable
s11sson to the proposed law has bean
= : = slie suggestion OF Senator Taylor.
=. s.s5Ss county. which will materially
tne suppression OF unlicensed
sss' which are 10 be branded as com
= - Ssssancess This means moro than
NotSis would Indicate. as IL brings
80 FSsses under the operation os the
faws against nuisances. and thew
~ Hsa be abated by Injunction. in
'1a u trusting to the expensive. pro-
: and frequently farcicai plan
.sssaetion by jury trial"
work Of the consmstsee Was an.
by numerous signatures 4. a
s t..as.sa prepared for submission to the
ss. .s.asaFs. asking that the question OF
sens liquor licenses be taken from
: .ae''se'eFs OF town eouncils and boards
Il Nav commissioners and restored 70
sssp'e The petition was based on the
49, ,has an occupation detrimental
= h'sssis OF the community ought TO
80. sssia'ed more directly by the voters
-. So in other words. that the
- s'0ais adopt a local option mw.
-. ssNis'ssd law. it is said. win at an
49, aas Dc presented to the Legislature