Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1896-01-31

a L , JAN OAh1 L 0l 10
number of llquor.dealers. there being be.
fore prohibition but two saloons in the
county, and the income of $500 each
therefrom was quite an item toward de-.
fraying public expenses. Then Came pro.
hibitioh, knocking our revenue and giving
US dozen saloons in place of two. It
should be borne in mind, also, that, under
license, the two saloons were supported
almost entirely by the military men sta.
toned at Fort Yates.
This condition Of affairs has not been
satisfactory to nine-tenths of the citizens
of this county, who have seen that prohi-.
bition has benefited only the liquor deals
ers, and great many people have be-
lieved that there ought to be revenue
derived from business which. as q lux
ury, IS considered by all civilized nations
to be legitimate subject for special tax
alton.
During the present year extra efforts
have been made by the proper county Of
f1cers to collect taxes and place the county
on better financial footing In this ef.
fort they have been loyalty indorsed by the
county board, both before Mr.. McLain
went out and since Mr.. Macdonald came
IN, and by every fair. r.minded person in
the county. The county board is the
ways and means committee of the coun-
ty; they are, more directly than any other
officers, the direct representatives of the
people in county government, and they
are chosen because the voters consider
them proper and competent persons to
conduct their affairs. And, so far as the
present or the recent board is concerned,
what Patterson might suggest in his pa
per, or what Streeter might suggest In
his paper, would have no influence whats
ever, unless such suggestion were in con-
sonance with their own ideas as to the
best interests Of their constituents.
The anlmus of Patterson is plain. He
cares nothing for the prohibition law or
its enforcement. But he hates the men
whose business has chiefly made the exist
ence of his town, and ndconsequently of his
paper, possible. He speaks i'll of his
town-befouls his own nest--in private
conversation he is sour because at the
recent term of court his own witnesses
freed the neiRhbor whom he was trying
to send to the penitentiary, bitter because
his perjury case against man who swore
that Patterson stole and sold neighbor' 8
boat was kicked out, of court. The
Patterson outfit has been wont, when
things at Winona didn't suit them, to ter.
rorize and threaten prosecutions. Patter-
son hopes that quarrel may ensue be-
tween those seeking a license system and
those from whom revenue is sought.
He knows that. while the people of this
county are opposed to prohibition. they
are getting tired of an increased number
OF saloons and no revenue-that they are
for license and not for free. whisky.
Knowing that this feeling exists ut pres
ent, and that IT would not exist toward
dealers who contributed to tighten the
burdens Of the taxpayers. he hopes to
stir up trouble and cause fefusals to pay,
that prosecutions may follow.
Patterson's hlnts as to the county CON-
missioners getting into trouble will de-
ceive no one. The law says that they
shall do certain things, but it does moi
prescribe the doing Of certain other
things. The commissioners are, not Gov
cred by the pains and penalties Of the
prohibition law. As for the states attor'
ney. the preliminary proceedings agalns,
those who fracture the prohib idea take
place before him. or before some justice
selected by Him, and states attorney
will undoubtedly diligently prosecute, -
as the Times quotes, II the circumstance
seem to warrant q prosecution. Further
more, the fine and Jail sentence whict
Patterson quotes for the benefit Of state,
attorneys would not come. at the becl
and call Of Patterson, but would rest il
the hands Of jury of his fellow citizens
There Is still q little home rule left. Like
wise sheriff may find evidence, II he has
his spectacles along and the license hasn',
been paid. Again, 1t is possible that 9
jury might find that non. observance Of
the prohibition law was much worse thar
violation Of the compulsory-educatiol
and the cactus. destruction laws--providet
the evidence was overwhelming and th,
prisoner at the bar had been too hoggisl
IAo die nn for hia llcensa
That the Times howls against the new
scheme Is pretty sure sign that it viii
prove successful. for the person Or polio!
that Patterson has denounced has gen
orally been considered about right by tn
people Of Emmoas. Nobody pays any at
tention to him, and the value of his oppo
sltion has long been recognzed in tn
politics of the county. He will pirate o
prosecuting this and that official; but n
will not do it. He 10 mean enough an,
malicious enough; but the sorry fgur,
he cut ct the last term showed him tha
the people were on to his motives. H
will appear no more on any stage as
star witness.
Those county officers and other citizen
who believe in deriving q revenue from
the liquor trade are to be congratulated
that the Winona flea has seen 1T to bite
! Relieved frsn Raln.
Mrs. Campbell is. dead. A letter re
4Ioos,,nJ R..- n....,