The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-12
x-GOvERNOR KNAPP
ON LIQUOR IN alaska.
Continued From Page One.

Continued From Page One.
elusive. provided the officers are true and
competent. and the sale to white men is,
undoubtedly, 10 limited extent restrain
ed That the law ls not more rigidly en-
forced is the subject CT regret and humili
alton. But how will the evil he remedied
by taking away all restraints and giving
license to Indians as Well as white mena
No one conversant with affairs IN Alaska
viii claim that the law is not some re-
straint 10 the introduction OF intoxicating
liquors into that territory. or that II does
not have some effec, in dlscouraging the
sale OF intoxicants 20 white men, while the
sale to Indians is largely prevented.
1t must be admitted that In the larger
settlements OF the mining population. like
Juneau, Skagway and Circle City. officers
of the law have very little help, or en-
enlargement In the performance of their
duty in preventing the importation and
sale of Intoxicating liquors to white men.
But "a careful study OF the situation dis
closes the fact that public sentiment is
only Indifferent upon that subject and
not actively in favor of smuggling. or other
lawlessness. and IL certainly can and ought
10 be stimulated and educated to an active
sympathy with the spirit OF the law And
the fact that public sentiment is already in
active sympathy with the prohibition OF
sales TO Indians everywhere and especial-
~ outside of the mining centers should
make US hesitate TO open up the food
gates and give free whisky to the 20 or
30 Indian villages fishing ana trading
stations all over the vast area OF that
territory. II viii be n sad day for central.
western and interior Alaska. where there
are no large populations OF white men.
II general license law is given to Alas
ka: and the people of that territory rec-
ognlze the fact It Is admitting too much
TO gay that public sentiment In opposed
to she enforcement OF the law, in view of
that fact alone though there IL some
ground for the assertion that there Ia
such a sentiment in the mining camps. Al
least, juries have been known To acquit
men who have been proved guilty beyond "A
reasonable Doubt. Bot even i'm that case
a determined and conscientious Judge could
set aside the verdict and would do So u
backed Icy the government and had
proper conception OF his duties Let us
consiaer the allegation that grand 3nriaa
will not indict" The United States dis
tY}ct attorney has great influence with
grand tuvies. and even II ne lacks inau-
ence with them. hc has TIE power. and
ought - have nc courage. TO report their
deunquencies 70 the court who should in
such case dismiss them for cause The
practice has already 80 some extent OBJ
tanned in Alaska % trying liquor cases
on information without tho action Of grand
juries, ard q conscientious Judge and at
torney would make II exceedingly uncor,-
Portable FOR law breakers without the all
~ the grand 5ary.
In view os ti1ese facts IL may be safely
asserted that II the United States district
Judge. attorney and collector o: customs
ssnstsaiy ard with conscientious deterfnsn-
alton. were to make persistent and judi
csosss efforts 10 prevent the smuggling or
Intoxicating liquors into the territory. ia