The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-03-15
THE SALOON BILL.

THE SALOON BILL
The saloon men In this state
managed to get a bill through the
LEGISLATOR that Is a ''plppin
The chief purpose OF the bill la
To absolutely protect saloon men
from liability In the case OF drunken
men who are injured in saloons
Among other things. this Fi1.
fathered by the celebrated Mr.
Link Davis. member OF the upper
house from Pierce county. atlunlatea
that should man bring suit
against a sRlooukecper FOR injuries
received while intoxicated in the
lattcr's place OF business the plain.
tiff must prove. not that the liquor
be bought was sold him by the de
PENDANT. but that the latter or hts
efuploye knew absolutely that the
defendant was drunk.
The chance any man has TO prove
that a bartender knew be was drunk
when he sold the former lntoxieanta
Is mighty slim plckIngs"
This bin Is one that the saloon
men wanted-and wanted had.
Before the elestlou a compact was
drawn up between the saloon men
aud the republican machine The
former promised their support and
the latter promised to pass the bill
Ia the Ninth legislature
The former produced the votes.
all right 20 elect their colleagues
Aud the latter produced the votes
all right 90 pass the bill
And Governor Mead recently
signed the measure. making Il a
laN tie gave a numher OF reasons
for doing so. but. Inadvertently.
neglected to mention the real one.
II L. not for want Of material that
prompts me 20 close M story on the
ninth legislature
ON III. contrary. = number of
quarto-Yulumea would hardly do
credit 20 a sublect 90 prolific In sub
jest matter similar 20 that which
has made the Missouri legislature
notorious n not famous
Please bear In mind that have
not thrown the ilmcliEht OF public
itY on isolated cases Of public dis
honesty or inefficieurY. but have
simply picked At random a few q
the many most ElarinK instances.
The Star has published these arti-
eles with a definite purpose in mind
a political purpose. II believes
that " the voters of this state and
particularly OF King county are
treated 10 an occasional peep behind
the
SCENES At OLYMPIA
Il may result In the oblivion Of some
Of the public servants Who are now
anfaithfally serYing their conStitu-
ents
There has been no malice nor per
sonal prejudice In this story Sever
al of the legislators whom / have
felt myself called upon Go criticize
found to be personally good fei-
lows and amiabls companions. Nor
has the Star been guilty of a ximll-
a. offcuso. Ny only Instructions
were to tell the truth and 70 spare
nobody.
Many OF my readers have prob
ably asked themselves Nhy have
refrainsd from speaking OF the good
men In the leg lslature-tha men
Who stand for all that ia clean and
honest in public life and Who have
served their constituents faith
fully.
Does the reader believe that a
man who pledges himself 10 Be hon
81 and faithful 10 his trust. and
keeps that pledge. II entitled TO a
brass hand and 4 basket Of flowers
II you employ a clerk you certain
y Do not expect him to rob your ill.
nor do you expect him 10 be any
thing but a faithful empioye n he
gets around 20 the office on time
each day. waits on the customers as
he should. and rings up the proper
amount on tha cash register. yon
don't get up on the housetop 20 pro-
claim him as a marvel OF virtue.
He In doing what you have hired
him 20 do and what he has promised
to do.
lie knew in advance what vas sx-
pected Of him. II he did not like
the work or the pay he was not
forced to
ACCEPT THE POSITION.
or he could have quit on short no
ice