The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-03-19
COMMUNICATION.
In the Matter Of Granting Saloon License
Operating Near the Depot

VI oho SCloleuleu WIZ SlPHcu lnc poti-
tions for and against the renewal of O.
Rentzsch's liquor license.
At this somewhat late date | write
to add my name to those petitioning
against such renewal.
| should gladly have signed before
the petition was presented had | known
of the existence of such petition.
And | write this now because | desire
to be counted in the minds of the peo-
pie of this community with those gen
tlemen who did what they could to
prevent the renewal of this particular
license. This is not a question of sa
looms or no saloons, but of single
saloon.
There are certain gentlemen who
greatly desire the establishment of
this particular saloon. They feel that
it ought to be right where it is. So
sure are they of the need that they
come willingly and publicly as petition
ers, begging that this community
through its Representatives in council,
will continue the gracious and benevo-
lent permission to sell liquor in this
particular place.
Now why should these gentlemen
feel so strongly the need of having this
particular license renewed, that they
are willing to go on public record as
baruinp Suph ropawalc
Some | suppose signed because they
believe in the saloon; others because
there was money in it for them; others
because of personal friendship; others
because they feel it good business
policy to keep in with the saloon ele'
ment. These we might expect to find
encouraging the granting of any and
every petition for license But be-
You'd these there are the names of men
who could not have signed for any of
these reasons. They are men of weight
in the community. The sight of their
names appended to petition for
saloon license brings with it shock
of surprise and grief. What conld
have caused such men to publicly beg
that this saloon be put in this place?
One of them told me that he signed be-
cause of the arrogance OF the N.P.R.
company in the matter of a new station
and steel overhead crossing.
Certain employees of the N. p:
railway company had asked that
this saloon be removed. And this was
enough to make these gentlemen beg
earnestly and successfully that it be
not removed
Now let US freely admit the AFRO
gance of the mp. company; that
they have not treated us right in the
matters of rates, station, crossing, etc,
etc. Who are responsible? The high
er officials who live in Tacoma or Seat
tie or St. Paul. These are the men
who decide what rates shall be made,
what Improvements allowed. Will it
hurt them any If we put a saloon down
by the station? Will it lessen their
salaries? If there is an accident due
to intemperance will it cost them
cent, or can the responsibility for it
be brought home to their consciences?
No. The people who will get hurt will
be innocent travellers, and the railroad
boys who live among us here, spend
their hard earned wages here, and are
our friends.
The dana ges for personal injury,
wreckage, repairs, etc, will eventually
come not out of the pockets of these
arrogant railroad magpates, but out of
ours in increased freight rates. And
the blame will rest on us who laid
stumbling stone of temptation in the
way of our fellow men.
The attitude of the town as indicated
by this petition and the action of the
council is like that of a small boy who
wants toy which big boy holds
temptingly just beyond his reach. Be
cause he does not get it as quickly as
he would like, he falls into rage and
kicks at the big boys shins. Does he
hurt the big boy? Does he get his toy
any quicker for his impotent rage?
Here however the rage is not only
vain, but the kick is dangerous, not to
the ones who "hold the toy but to
every innocent traveller and railroad
employee.
If the consequences might possibly
not be so dreadful, this vain and inn
potent action of the business men and
CITY council would be only ludicrous.
AS it. is it is little short of criminal.
Faithfully Yours,
ALLEN X. SMITH.