The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-01

ISiu 10 uuSlueSS VI tue WY alu
county. that at the present time needs
careful consideration.
ADJUSTMENT OF DIFFERENCES.
There is a prospect OF mutual
agreement between the forces Of pro-
hihition. and the saloon element In
Oregon. The result OF the recent elec-
ton is evidence of the fact. that the
people OF Oregon are not in favor OF
stringent prohibitory laws. Radical
measures may win on the impulse of
the moment but when the people study
the effect and conditions. more con-
servative policy prevails. A circular
letter has been issued by the Brewers
and Wholesale Liquor Dealers Asso-
citation OF the state. addressed to the
various mayors and public officials of
Oregon. Mayor Suprenant received one
yesterday. OF which the following Is a
copy.
Now that the tumult Of the prohi-
bition elections has died away. and the
purport OF the local option law passed
last June is beginning to be under
stood. there is forming in this state a
strong sentiment in favor OF so amend
ing the law that municipalities shall
have more complete control over the
liquor traffic and its revenues within
their corporate limits, than Is allowed
by the present law.
The leading local optionists. them
selves, now advocate the amendment Of
the law so that prohibition elections
shall be held under II by precincts in
stead of by counties.
There is. perhaps. no commrcial In
terest In Oregon which is 50 heartily
in favor OF a genuine and enforcible
local option law as the heavy interest
represented by this association. There
are many trade reasons why this is so,
and we are anxious to cooperate with
the local option forces who are now
advocating some amendment OF this
little understood law.
l desire, therefore. to ask You at this
time IL you believe that an amendment
of the present law, which would pro-
vide for elections by precincts instead
of counties, would be satisfactory. This
amendment would include, OF course. a
provision for the following sample
difficulty:
One Of the precincts In the city Of
Hood River extends several miles be-
yond the city limits into the country.
The amendment would provide that in
such cases the precinct should be d.
vided into two by the city boundary
line. This would always give the peo-
pie Of municipalities entire control over
matters within their city.
There are a great many things to be
considered in the making Of a satis-
factory law, and we will greatly ap-
preciate it If you will communicate
with us in this regard at your earliest
convenience, in order that time may be
had in which to prepare for the con-
sideration of the next legislature. an
which will be fair to all,
which can be effectively enforced and
which will not continually threaten to
revolutionize the revenues Of many
cities In oregon.
That the liquor traffic should be re-
stricted admits of no doubt, and IL the
prohi and antis can agree upon a So
luton Of the question that will place
the traffic within the control of mu-
nicipal corporations, 1t will no doubt
meet with the approval Of the conserv-
ative and law abiding elament of the
state. That more restrictions are re-
quired is self-eyident, but to pro-
hibit the sale, as long as It is manu-
factured, is a task that cannot be
in this age and genera
tion. Local option In Its truest sense
is the balance wheel for the regulation
of the traffic, and when such laws are
passed, with the equities equal, no one
can object A large majority of the
American people are opposed to the
liquor traffic, but are compelled to tole-
rate 1t as a necessary evil That the
question can be satisfactorily adjust
ed at the next session Of the legislature
seems to have taken definite shape,
and when it is adjusted the question
will be removed from the turmoil of
political strife.