The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1906-10-18
EMPHATIC CLOSING LAW.

On another page can be found a
couple OF ordinances, which have fof
their PURPOSE the closing OF saloons
and business houses at proper hours.
A newspaper cannot help but take
the right side OF moral questions
whatever the private opinion OF the
editor may be. In this case The Re-
corder sustains the action Of the VII
lage board at the same time realizing
that the very elements that have
made the greatest howl, and are SO
emphatic In having these ordinances
passed are In measure responsible
for the existing conditions.
We say It. without fear Of success
ful contradiction that the manner in
which the sheriff's Office has been
conducted In the past two years Is
responsible for the disregard for the
state law on gambling. 1t would not
be hard matter &c prove that the
sheriff's Office has not only counte-
nanced gambling in the saloons OF
the town, but has given those run
ming gambling games ample warming
and pointers about visitants OF these
places who might be disposed to
"squeal" after being swindled out of
their hard-earned dollars. To a
large extent the very people who
have made the greatest noise about
the. Sunday closing law are the ones
who were the hardest workers for the
election of the men who have per-
mitted this condition of affairs.
We lave no hesitancy in making
the charge upon conclusive Informal
tion that gambling Is carried on In
every one Of the saloons of the town
but one; and the manner In which
the law Is ignored Is responsible for
these closing laws. The very people
who were In measure responsible
for this condition are the people who
have made life burden to the village
trustees. In fact they, themselves,
have become disguised with their
offspring. When the so-called relig-
ious element OF a town work In collu-
sion with the saloon element, no
matter how much they regret 1T
afterwards, they should pocket their
chagrin, and not attempt to punish
their colleagues.
These are distasteful things for "A
newspaper to have to say, but they
are facts which can not be ignored
1t would be no trouble to prove that
there are poker games being con-
Quoted In I've of the six saloons Of
the town ana also faro bank games
are run in at lesat two out of these
five. In addition to almost open
gambling, prostitutes have been per-
United To solicit trade upon the
streets and practice their nefarious
trade within fifty feet Of the main
thoroughfare. The moral element of
a community will stand for these
things to a certain extent, but reach
a time when even patience ceases to
DO virtue. We have no desire to
say things to hurt the feelings of the
present occupants Of the sherig's
office, but II their sworn duties had
been performed, and gambling kept
at least In reasonable bounds the vii.
lage trustees would not have been
forced to pass these. at the
demand OF public opinion.
As one saloon man of the town adj
mitted to the writer they, them
selves, were responsible for this clos.
Ing law, because they bad made no
effort to comply with a reasonable
demand OF public opinion. II the
moral phase Of the question is to be
considered, the village trustees, in
compliance with public opinion, have
only performed their duty. Ii the
benefits to the town, from a financial
standpoint are to be considered, they
have not. The miners when they
come to town have no other place to
spend their time unless 1t is In a
saloon. However, since the majority
seem to be In favor Of the enforcing
OF these ordinances The Recorder
VIII Insist that they be enforced to
the letter, so long as an ordinance
exists, and II the present marshal
VIII not enforce them it devolves up.
on the trustees to appoint one who