The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-04-08
at the Billings Postot1ice as Second
Glass Matter.
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 1902.
WHITE YELLED MOB.

Before starting on its unlawful mis-
sion Of destruction, the Nebraska mob
Of women that wrecked a saloon no
doubt argued that the high moral mo-
tive which prompted commission Of
the deed Of lawlessnes justified the
members in %arraying themselves in
white and co~ncealing their features be-
hind masks of the same color usually
accepted as emblematic Of purity and
innocence. No matter what argument
they may advance in justification Of
their deed, or how much their friends
may condone and approve their act,
they are guilty Of a violation Of the
law and amenable to the law they
outraged, the same as any n else
who goes contrary to the provisions
of the statutes. The fact that they
were representative of the minority
wishes Of the community in which
they live only adds to the gravity Of
their offense.
Two days before these theatrical
followers Of Carrie Nation went on
their campaign Of destruction the
town, Eddyville, had an election and
the local option qestion was one Of
the issues voted on. The element in
favor Of saloons and the sale Of
liquor proved to be in the majority
and the prohibitionists were defeated.
This fact Of itself should have stayed
the hands Of the women, for the very
principle of our government is major
ity rule. and much as they may have
regretted the outcome Of the election
they should have abided by the de-
cision Of the majority, as all lawabid-
ing and good citizens are expected to
do. But they belong to that fanatical
portion Of the population which Is to
be found in all parts of the country
who are ever insistent that their opin.
ions and wishes shall prevail, regard.
less of the wishes and desires Of the
majority. and If they find themselves
outnumbered have no hesitancy In re.
sorting to violence as a NEAR of eX-
pressing their dissatisfaction and dis.
approval.
The dispatch which brings the news
of the raid adds that "public sentiment
among the best people Is with the
women" II such Is really the case
Eddyvllle is particularly unfortunate
in the possession and selection of It's
best people" No matter what those
pest people, may think in regard
to the liquor traffic or how wrong they
may consider it to be, the fact that
those who lend themselves to the com.
mission Of unlawful practices, wen
though such practices are committed
under the guise Of adding to or i'm.
proving the moral status of a com.
munity, shows them to belong to an
element which Is not entitled to the
distinction conveyed by the expires.
sion "best people," In %applauding the
lawless acts of a lawless body they
give encouragement to open violation
Of the laws and place themselves on
the anne level with the violators, re.
CARELESS Of any motive which may act.
uate either of them. The laws are
made to be observed and respected ~
all alike and no excuse or justification
can be urged for their violation, II
1t is wrong for a mob Of men to l3ncl
some other mar accused Of a crime
then it is fully as wrong for a mol
of women to wreck a place Of bust
ness and injure the proprietor, and
more especially when, he is conducting
that place Of business under the sane
ton Of the law and pays for the pro
lection which the law is supposed Il
give him.
ECCENTRIClTY or THE Aw