East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-07-26

The following editorial from the
Rathdrum Press on the doom of open
gambling in Idaho. and a reply by the
Boise Statesman shows that public
sentiment is so firmly fixed against
gambling in the Gem state, that II
must go.
All over the Pacific coast the same
fearless sentiment is expressed, and II
the saloons don't close and abolish
gambling completely, the people will
close the saloons. The Press says:
The anti-gamblng crusade is as
suming definite form in the shape of
league to cover the whole county,
which is being organized for the pur-
pose of enforcing the law against
gambling. AS we understand 1t the
members of this league are pledged
to oppose the election of any candi-
date for office who is not in favor of
enforcing the law. We believe in en-
forcing all laws, and it is the duty of
officers who are sworn to uphold them
| to see that they are enforced impair
| TALLY. and then If they prove obnoX-
ious to the people 1t is an easy mat
ter to have them repealed. The charge
| is frequently made that gambling is
being conducted openly in Rathdrum,
without an effort to enforce the law.
while the officers are prosecuting vio-
/ lators in this city. We do not know
how much truth there is in these
charges, but an officer should know
no favortes or friends in performing
his sworn duty, and the law ought to
be enforced in every community.
The Press does not agree with the
radical element in going so far as to
make Coeur d'Alene what is COM
| monty accepted as a closed town; at
the same time there has been too
much laxness in keeping within the
bounds of decency, and a halt is nee
| essary
The conservative saloon men recog-
nize this fact. and unless the saloons
are conducted along lines within the
pale of the law, the members of the
anti-gambling league may swing to
the extreme and force the officials to
put the lid on tight and screw it down.
The results of the present movement,
and what may follow, are largely In
the hands of the saloon men and If
they fail to see the coming storm it
will be their own fault If it results
disastrously to them. They will un-
doubtedly be money ahead in busi-
ness way by cutting out gambling and
complying with the law.-Coeur
dAlene Press.
That shows the lumber city is go-
ing through the throes that have been
experienced by so many other places
In the state, says the Boise Statesman
in reply.
In Idaho there are comparatively
few places where gambling rs n bust
ness is tolerated. The law Is agains
IL: the people are against IL. and. Will
women fortunately admitted TO tho
right of franchise, the voters arr
against IT,
Therefore it cannot survive as {
business in any but a few communi
ties; nor is it likely to continue Ions
in any. for the development of Sount
public sentiment is in progress every
where and in time this evil will III
rooted out I'm every community, eycI
thoSc In which the false Sentimcn
prevails that 1t ''heIps business
The Press is entirely right in th
tenor of its article to the effect tina
it is the saloons which stand for tn
vice. They are its buwark; they har
Dor 1t, and encourage 1t. and partici
pate in it until the public becomes 81
deeply stirred that it is stopped in
n way that is effective. The saloon mel
!. invite regulation by their persistenc
i in such course and eventually tn
regulation Is carried down to the roo
. Of things.