The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-18
THE LOCAL OPTION HILL


A Friend Of Temperance Gives Some
Reasons why II should Not Pass
Editor Psss-lntez.igencsr: The pro-
motors OF shs local option hla probably
count upon the support Of prohlosEionists
and temperance men generally. but 1t IS
more than doubtful II they ought TO re-
cezve Il There 10 no general demand Ia
this state for legislation Of this cha<ac-
ter. and Il the bill which Senator Taylor
has introduced becomes law. there VIII
be no pubic opinion behind Il 70 insist
upon its enforcement, and q law that Il
not enforced Is worse than none az all.
No one Is more in favor OF the total pro-
hibition OF the manufacture and sale OF
Intoxicating liquors. than ana NO one Is
prepared to so further In putting stop
10 . business that is responsible Tor so
much that Is individually and socially in
furious. There are people who feel called
upon TO stand UP for all legislation al
legged to be for the restriction OF the Ii
quor srafilc. bat experience teaches that
such half measures a. local option or io-
cal prohibition accomplish little positive
good. result in nuch actual evil and are
obstacles In the way Of true Temperance
raSorm
The liquor-drinking habit Of the people
- not OF modern growth. It Is as old as
the race itself. for all we know to the
contrary, and It cannot be eradicated by
legislation, NO matts- AeM cunniagiy de-
vised. Generations OF education will be
necessary to bring about radical change
In this respect. and although II Is true
enough that 1.-The law Is the best school
master" 1t must be law that Is thor.
oughiy enforced. II it Is 10 teach valuable
lessons. A law that 10 violated every day
with impunity Is also schooimaster, but
what It teaches would be better left I'M
taught.
Ny experience. and think also the ex-
perience Of every man who has been iden-
titled with temperance work. il that the
enactment Of prohibisory legislation has
always been q blow to real temperance
reform. This reform originated IN an APP
probation OF the great harm overindul-
gence In 4ntoxicants was doing to ;ndt-.
viduals. It found It's first and perhaps Its
greatest triumphs in the old Washing
tonian movement. which was merged into
that grand order. The Sons OF Temperance.
the corner stone of which Is In
dividuai reform. The wonderful eff
fects Of t.at movement are felt
today. To 1t must be attributed
all or nearly all that has been really ac-
complished In the way OF promoting total
abstinence But some enthusiastic people
grew tired OF waiting for final triumph to
be accomplished by the only true method.
namely. the education OF individuals and
the community. and sought to reach the
goal by cut across lots. Hence the de-
mand for state prohibition and local op-
ton Certain politicians. seeing that the
idea that men could be reformed by legis-
iation was taking one began to per-
suade people that the time was ripe for
prohibition, and the moment the temper
ance organizations adopted that view, that
moment temperance reform halted In its
SPLENDID career. DO not know that It
would be an exaggeration to say that It
took q step backward. in the sense. at
least. that the retaining of individuals
was abandoned for an attempt at one
blow to revolutionize the habits of whole
communities. It may be granted that IL
there were any probability that under a
local option law the sale OF liquor could
be absolutely prevented or even be kept
practically down IN certain localities, good
would result there: but such localities
are few. very few. In number.
Have any of the people OF Washington
had experience In the working OF local
optiong II so, they will bear me out In
saying that the enforcement of such
law Is practical question-one of the
most intensely practical questions that
can be conceived. Nothing is accom-
plished by a display OF enthusiasm or
sentimental talk. Eternal vigilance, hard
work. seif-sacrifce. liberal outlay of
money. the maintenance OF detective or
CARNATIONS, the spying out of the con-
Duct OF individuals. and the engendering
OF strife are certain TO be entailed by an
attempt to enforce local option I am
not discussing whether the results likely
to be achieved are worth what they win
cost I do say. however, that the ex-
perience OF nearly every community that
mas tried local option Is that temper
ance people are not willing to be to this
cost for the enforcement Of the law. That
experience shows that after a. short time
ane enthusiasm dies out OF the leaders.
VINO grow tired Of the expense, loss Of
Tune ana business, and mental worry In
cident to the enforcement OF the law.
There is no money In It for them, while
there is money in the infraction of the
law Tor those who violate it. Therefore
While those who want to sell liquor have
every incentive to vtelate the law, there
soon ceases to be any considerable num-
Der or persons who feel personal obli-
CATION TO aid In enforcing 1t. and the
result Is II remains a dead letter.
Al a. IA
Then VIII come demand for the main
tenance OF a detective force at the public
expense TO see that the law is observed.
which means the throwing OF the whole
business into politics. with on one side
a wealthy party organization with mil
Aons or dollars a. slaKe. and on the other
number of excellent people. not very
Wei versed In the ways OF practical pol
l'ics sod BY no means ready 20 put their
hars1s In their pockets and pay the bills
inseparabie for such a contest. This may
DC cold-hlooded way to look at the
question: bat as I said above. the nrop-
osttton Is above all things a practical
one. and no true friend OF temperance
would desire TO see the legislature pre-
eipitaie condition OF things which would
lead to results like those above mention
ei. Meanwhile the locality where the
law Is alleged 10 be In force loses the
revenue from license; there Is as much
1Saaor sold as ever. bat it - sold without
any restrictions or police supervision. ard
pence the traffic exists in its most MIS-
chiesous form. I repeat that any enc
WHO has had practical experience of the
WORKINGS OF local option will admit that
the Picture have drawn above does no
more than justice to the condition or