The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-03-07
THE WRONG PIG BY THE EAR

Many copies of an anonymous CIR
cular printed under the heading Just
a Word'' have been received here,
and doubtless also at other points in
the county, during the past week.
They we're enclosed In plain manila
envelopes and we're mailed in Seattle
with one cent stamps affixed. The
circular purports to give number OF
extracts from a sermon vehemently
denouncing saloons, recently preach
ed by Rev. M. A. Matthews. one of
SeattIe's ablest ministers and the most
sensational of them all. It is not the
purpose of the Islander to discuss the
merits of Mr.. Matthews philippe.
He is undoubtedly sincere in his views
of the evils attendant upon the liquor
traffic, although it serves his purpose
to portray them in a manner rather
better calculated to appeal to preju-
dice than to reason. Very likely the
circular, probably issued by the anti
saloon league, but which the author
did not have the manliness or the
courage to sign, would have escaped
the notice of the editor of the Islander
If his attention had not been called
to it by good friends whose opinion
he respects. and whose own attention
bad been arrested by the concluding
paragraph. which says:
'"The reverend gentleman overlook
ed one thing that the voters should
not overlook, and that is the PERM
clous activity of the saloon in poll
tics, not only in our cities but in our
rural districts. For an illustration,
our state was treated last year to what
was termed as GA row in the Republi-
can party in San Juan county,. when
in fact the statement was only dust
thrown in the eyes of the voters. Tor it
was the struggle of the saloons in that
county to control the politics of the
county and so elect man to the Iegis-
lature that was favorable to their in
terests. 1t is an undisputed fact that
at the primaries and during the cam
paisn and on election day whiskey was
as free as water. and 1t was all used
on the side that the saloons controlled.
They also controlled the Democratic
leaders of the county and so prevent
ed Democratic ticket being nomi-
mated and the Democratic leaders in
f1uence and support went to the sue
cessful faction of the Republican party
and thus elected every candidate that
the saloons endorsed. and finally
wound up their free whiskey campaign
with the most disgraceful and insult
ing parade and celebration ever known
in the state, after the election. cele-
brating their independent manhood
free whiskey victory. How long
how long will the decent people of
the two old parties consent to have
the politics of their rural counties
debauched by bloated, blear-eyed sa-
loonkeepers and their heelers?"
rs
The islander is not defender Of or
an apologist for saloons. The files of
the paper for many years past furnish
conclusive proof of the editors posi-
tion on the liquor question and of his
constant advocacy of high license, To-
cal option and strict enforcement of
laws relating to the conduct of ga
looms. But he believes in fairness
and does not concur In the opinion
apparently held by many good people
that man who lawfully engages in
the liquor business. licensed by law
ana from which very large part of
the revenue Of government is derived.
forfeits his right to ssfair deal, in
so doing.
The "row in the Republican party
In San. Juan county" did not originate
with the saloons. They were in no
sense responsible for it's inception.
although they prof1ted considerably
by 1T financially and were important
factors in the result. which. however
could not have been accomplished
without the active aid of MANY nal,
meaning people who we're misled
into enlisting under the sindependent
manhood"banner carried BY men who
repudiated in day the political oh
legations of years. If"at the pr,mar.
les and during the campaign and on
election day whiskey was as free AZ