Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-10
THE SALOON

nROHIBITIONIST the country
over are strutting about with
\ chips on their shoulders, shifting
the refreshing breezes from Georgia,
Kentucky, Alabama, Delaware and
other corners of America, cavorting,
some of them, like fond father who
loudly proclaims the advent of his first
heir. And well they may. Their cause
is doing itself proud.
The growth of the prohibition senti-
ment during the past two or three
years has been simply amazing. Who
ever expected to see Kentucky, for ex-
famed for its whisky. standing proud
ly in the front rank of the common
wealths whose inhabitants are giving
the saloon it's death blow?
The saloon has been the author of it's
own undoing-for fate's decree is to be
seen upon the wall It's pernicious ac-
tivity in politics in nearly every city in
the United States, the bold stand TAX
en- by allied liquor interests everywhere,
which "clairn recognition in politics
simply because they know they have
welded and still do WELD political
power-these have disgusted and sick
ened decent men everywhere. Thous-
ands upon thousands of voters who a
few years ago would have hooted at
the idea that under any conceivable
combination of circumstances they ever
could be induced to vote for the total
abolition of the liquor traffic, are now
working hand in hand with the
''cranks,'' the fanatics and the
'visionaries'' who have been .devoting
1nonstrous iniquity. The corporaPs
guard of earnest campaigners has be-
come a mighty army whose slogan is:
"The saloon must go!" And already
trail of dust is following in its wake
in many quarters.
There is little in the present great
uprising, it would seem, to hold out
any definite promise to the partisan
Prohibitionists that the issue will be-
come a national one-at least for some
time to come. Thus far the disturbances
in the political equilibrium of the peo-
pie are local in their nature. The right
of the federal government to enact
sumptuary legislation has been ques-
toned so long that it is hardly to be
anticipated that a speedy revolution
in sentiment in this respect will devel-
op. 1t is true that the judge of a
district court in Indiana last summer
declared the granting of liquor licenses
TO be unconstitutional. but this ques-
ton remains to be passed upon by the
higher courts.
This, however, has nothing to do
with the political aspect of the warlike
attitude of home defenders in various
states and cities of the Union. We cite
this court decision simply as evidence
Of the fact that the bench has made
a fair start at giving recognition to a
eeneration-old contention of the parti-
san Prohibitionists that the saloon has
no status in the law and that saloon IL
censes cannot be granted under the
constitution.
The enemies of this greatest foe of
the human race may not work hand in
hand on a common ground for many
a long year, for it is evident that
many of those who are most violently
opposed to the liquor traffic will not
consent that it be made a national
party issue, preferring to treat it as
a aouestion entirely outside of the realm
Of partisan politics. The problem will
be solved in this manner. we believe.
But should it not, nothing can prevent
the rapid growth of the national prohi-
bition organization. Through one means
or another tn e saloon will be curbed to
inconsequential proportions as social
and political factor or be eradicated en-
tirely. In its present status it is in
tolerable,