The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-14
Concerning Saloon Licenses.

matter Of granting licenses for the sale
of intoxicating liquors. over against
the senseless and impracticable policy
of prohibition there stands another
which is equally Objectionable and has,
in other communities, driven many we'll
meaning men into the prohibition ranks.
This Is the policy of granting licenses
to sell liquor either Unfortunately to
all applicants. or. what is worse, of
making II the prize Of personal or po-
litical pull.
1t Is the plain intent of the law, as It
is the wish of the people, that permission
to sell intoxicants shall be granted only
to those who, under bonds agree to use
1t In proper and orderly way. 1t is
the theory and should be the practice
to require all keepers OF saloons TO see
that no disorderly acts are committed
on their premises, and that these shall
not be used as haunts for the vicious or
as abodes of crime. 1t is not in any way
necessary to the business of dispensing
intoxicants that the saloon should be
disreputable spot or an influence maxi
ing the maintenance of law and order
difficult and the commission of crime
easy Where such results follow. II Is
primarily the fault of the authority that
can grant or refuse a license at its
pleasure
The responsibility thus fixed cannot be
shifted. 1t is to the interest of the COM
munity, it is the desire OF the most lib
orally inclined people and 1t is the pur-
pose of the law that the supervision and
control of the liquor traffic contained in
the licensing power should be exercised
freely. vigorously and wisely. It is pos
sible by such action to raise the stan
dard Of morality in community and to
assist materially in the suppression OF
crime. Let II simply be understood that
all liquor dealers must conform to few
Just and simple conditions. They should
be persons of such repute that the
license privilege may be lodged with
them safely. Their houses should not
be an asylum for the disorderly or the
law-breaker. When they become such.
the license should be revoked and Its
renewal or transfer refused without one
moments hesitation or sympathy.
There is nothing in this business to
place II under an unreasonable ban.
There is nothing to warrant giving to
II an unreasonable immunity. And upon
the city council rests the responsibility
of enforcing the wholesome conditions
and restrictions which exist everywhere
in the letter but are too often spurned
contemporary IN practice. II ga
loon becomes VIGOROUSLY headquarters
for outlaws. suspend or take away It's
license. This Is as important as the
appointment of policemen and the ar
rest and conviction OF public offenders,
II there Is a saloonkeeper who has per-
mitted his place TO be the scene Of dis
orderly acts, one where crime is con-
ceived or executed. exclude him from
the business. There are enough men
who will engage In It and conform en-
tlrely to the proper restraints OF public
statute and public policy. The saloon
becomes a problem" only where ileens-
ing Is indisoriminate, and where neither
bad character nor dlsrespeot FOR law
stands as n bar to the granting or re-
nswal Of privileges.
We believe tina, the members % our
council understand the Justice and the
Importance OF this view. as an adjunct
to the preservation OF peace aud order
and the enforcement % police regula-
tons. The people are IN mood 70 hold
them TO a strict Accountability. Let all
applications for license be scanned with
a severe eye. and construed In a spirit
Of fairness that leans toward rigor
rather than toward careless good ma
ture. 1, Is for the Interest % the bust
ness Itself. fer the interest and repute
Of the council. and most Of all FOR the
good n the whole community.