American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1908-08-29
OUR BRAND OF LOCAL OPTION
Robert NJ McCracken Tells the Boise Statesman Why
We Haven't Something Just Good" as Local Option
and Cites the Action of Our Village Trustees Proof

Editor of the Statesman: In Sun
days issue of August 8, there appeared
an editorial under the caption, Local
Option in Boise" In that editorial you
say that under our present laws I'VE
seem to have the very thing that is be-
ing SO vigorously demanded, namely,
local option"
Now let US see If the local option
people really have what they are con-
tending for. There is law which has
been upon the statute books of this
state since 1893, and which entities any
city. town or village council 20 prohibit
the sale Of intoxicating liquors within
It's limits. Under this statute, the
voter who desires 10 express his wishes
upon the question as to whether or not
intoxicating liquors may be sold within
his home town must take chances upon
the action Of some few men who may
hold similar views TO his own and who
may not. The recent efforts made by
the people OF American Falls to exer-
else their option under this law affords
ns an illustration Of how easily the
wishes OF the people of any town within
this state may be set aside By council
which is not bound by law 10 regard
their wishes, even when expressed by
ballot. upon liquor questions.
Some months ago the people Of that
town petitioned the council to prohibit
the sale Of intoxicating liquors within
its limits. The petition was signed by
large majority Of the inhabitants Of
that place. The council. composed Of
five men, said 10 the people:
we viii hold an election so that YOU
may express your wishes upon this
question. II majority say NO sa-
looms. We will refuse to grant any more
licenses.
An election was held and the result
was that majority voted against the
sale Of liquors within the town limits.
Then IL was up 90 the council TO carry
out It's agreement with the people In
accordance with the vote of the ma
jority an ordinance was introduced at
a regular meeting of the council on the
fth of August prohibiting the sale of
intoxicating liquors within the limits of
American Falls after October of this
year, and 3 majority of the council re-
fused action upon the proposed ordin-
ance. They offered no explanation to
the amazed people for their arbitrary
action. One of them did say, however.
that the majority of the council owed
their election to the saloon men and
they were going to stand by them.
Now who really has the right, so far as
American Falls is concerned. to pass
upon the question as TO whether OF not
intoxicating liquors may be sold there?
The people of that place? No: Just a
small number of the people of that
/ place have any such right at the pres
ent time. Just five men have that
/ privilege in American Falls under this
statute which SO many say is better
than a local option law.
The people of Idaho have reached a
point in their political progress where
they refuse to delegate the right tc
! pass upon the liquor question 60 coun.
eli or board of county commissioners.
American Falls is not the only place
in Idaho where the rights of majority
of the people are to be ignored. There
is little place in Ada county, just sew.
enteen miles down the valley from the
capital city, called Star. This town is
not Incorporated. From the languag,
of your editorial. this place would seen
to have the very thing that is being SC
vigorously contended for local op.
/ tion). -
Let us see who has the right to say