The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-08-20

upon bow they felt about the matter.
To illustrate still farther, we will as
sumo that the people, Of the Pahsim-
ari or the Junction wished to abolish
the saloon from their midst. in the
Grst place they are fifty miles from
Salmon, the county seat. The people
wonid first have to 90 to the trouble
Of circulating a petition, and secure
| a majority Of the residents Then
tile board OF county commissioners
would have to act upon that petition.
10 the case OF Baker they required,
not only the petition, but some OF
the representative citizens TO appear
befofe them. Is II TO be supposed
that bali dozen citizens from these
outIayinp precincts care to pay their
own expenses for several days, and
lose the time as well to carry this
matter to successful issue, as the
law now stands?
The Recorder must differ With the
editor Of the other paper when he
says that "a local option law would
not help Salmon and Lembi county"
Editor Abbott reasons falsely when
he says the people have To vote today
under the present system, as the law
can he enforced only by petitioning
the county commissioners or the
council or trustees OF municipality.
Editor Abbott continues bis argu-
ment along this line by saving "a
prohibition law 10 Idaho would be a
bad thing for Lemhi county; because
10 would not be enforced any more
than the antl-gambling law and any
other laws which the people do not
desire to see enforced.
IL Is but a matter OF but three or
four years since all OF the saloons OF
the Town. with the exception OF one
or two, were running gambling
games openly. Since Sheriff Mulkey
and Deputy Sheriff Ball were electe d
there haye been no games run, unless
In the back rooms OF saloons or hid.
den away where 1t was impossible for
the officers to catch them. Since
they have been In Office these men
have turned into the county treasury
nearly ~ 500 from fines for disobey.
ing the gambling and Sunday closing
law. There may be gambling going
On In Salmon at the present time,
but 1t Is so securely hidden away
that 1t Is impossible to catch them.
IL woald be just as logical an argu-
me"t Tor the other paper 10 say there
Is no use In having laws against muir
der, arson or horse stealing because
there are some people who do not he.
lieve In these kind OF laws.
II Is hard to understand how a
man In bis right senses could make
use OF the following expression, even
In a newspaper. ''Lemhi county OBJ
serves good order, but has little re.
spect for law" In two years resi-
denee In Salmon the writer must
confess that there are few commun'
tiles In any state where the better
element OF its citizenship had more
regard for the law. 1t Is true there
Is an element In this place, as there
rs In most communities, who do moi
want TO see any law enforced so Ions
AS Ii interferes with their business
or their financial gain. This Is the
element which Tie Recorder has
been condemning and which Mr.. Alb
hott has been UNFOLDING and abusing
the writer for criticising.
i The enactment Of local option
law would have n restraining influ
ence upon just this class. 1t would
make them have some regard for thu
law and the common decencies. II
would be club to hold over theil
heads. 1t would make them realize
that they must conduct their bust
ness In decent way, obey the Law
now on the statute books or run tn,
risk OF an outraged public sentiment
putting them out of business. Thi.
Is one OF the great reasons why Tn,
Recorder Is In favor Of an effectiv,
local option law, and not a mongre
makeshift as the law placed upon tn,
statute books by the brutal republi
can majority OF the last legislature.