American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1908-08-29

whether or not liquors shall be sold in
unincorporated communities. The peo-
pie? Hardly The board of county
commissioners, by virtue of law pass
ed at the last session of the legislature,
has this right. This board is composed
of three members, none of whom re-
sides at Star.
Some months ago an application was
presented TO the board of commissioners
praying for a license TO sell liquors at that
place. The people of that community
circulated petition addressed to the
board of commissioners urging them TO
refuse 70 grant license 20 the appli-
cant. The petition referred to was
signed By a few hundred people. The
petition of the applicant was signed by
about twenty people. Under this law
the option is given, not TO the people of
Star, but to three men who compose
the board Of county commissioners, to
say whether or not liquors shall be sold
in that town The board refused to
grant the license. But the law does
not say how long this refusal IS good
for; consequently the gigilant saloon
man may renew his application every
three months, or oftener, if he chooses
TO do SO, and just as often the people
Of that community must demonstrate
against the issuance Of license with
no assurance that their remonstrance
will be Needed.
1t is said, although | hope that the
report is untrue, that one member Of
I the board Of county commissioners who
voted against the granting of license
some time ago, proposes to vote for the
issuance of license for the sale of in
toxicating liquors when application
shall be made. Himself and one other
constitute a majority of the board
/ ssisFsre are fully 500 people in-<he
I vicinity of Star who do not want the
saloon TO about twenty or more who do.
And these 500 people you seem to think
have the option of saying yes or
no" upon this question so far as
it affects their own community They
have expressed their option, not by bal
lot, but by petition. to three men: and
il the report is true, two Of the three
men will say to the 500 people of that
community:
What care we about your wishes?
The law says that we. and not YOU.
have the right to say what is best for
your community. We will permit q
saloon or saloons to be run down there
contrary to your will. - Is this plan OF
dealing with any question democratic ir
principleg Is it republican in principle!
Is 1t American in principle?
Then is it any wonder that the man,
hood and the womanhood of this state
refuse any longer to depend upon two
or three men in their community to ACT
for them in this matter? They want
what they are entitled to, and that is
The right to pass directly upon this
question.
In the case of the village of Star.
someone will say; 'oh, well. elect 9
board of county commissioners ant
town councils that you can depend upor
to carry out your wishes. -
That is the argument of most people
who oppose local option. They insist
that the win Of the people must fine
expression through two or three men,
while the optionists propose to give
every voter in every part of the county
an opportunity TO express themselves
at the same time upon this question
and that such expression shall be direct
and not indirect.
In the same editorial you have vel
said that local option and prohibition
are regarded by many as synonymous