The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-03-06
Progress in the Regulation of saloor


representative men in the liuuor
business, distillers and brewers to
consider proposed legislation con-
corning this traffic, not in the spirit
OF class leaders, but in the spirit of
citizens who have more at stake than
the profits of their business.
The men engaged in the manufac-
ture and sale of whisky have drafted
what they call the Model License
Law. 1t contains features of great
interest and great wisdom. 1t brings
the business to basis of common
sense. 1t eradicates many of it's
worst features and it aims to restrain
all of the abuses of the business with
out prohibiting to all men what is
Tor the injury of the few.
Following this lead, the Brewers
Association of Kentucky at their
present meeting pledged themselves
to reform of the saloon, to take the
saloon out of the hands of irrespon-
sible men and bring it under the rea-
son able regulation of the law.
When such suggestions were made
eight or ten years ago, they were met
with chorus of denunciation and
were said to be infringing upon the
personal liberty of the citizen. Men
who spoke for such changes were
marked men, and blacklists were
made of all men who were unwilling
to have the business go on without
restrictions Of any kind.
We refer to the change, not for
animadversion, but to indicate the
healthy growth of public opinion. We
believe it is better for all interests
that a stricter legal restraint be
placed upon this traffic; that the re-
strictions called for by the general
experience of mankind be embodied
in the law; that the young and i'm
questionable be excluded from sa-
looms; that drunken men be denied
the right to get drunken; that locali-
ties be protected from the invasion
even of the best saloons when in the
Judgment of that immediate COM
munity they injure it's attractions or
impair it's peace. '-ss...
The saloon business has fallen UNI
der public condemnation because of /,
the worst type of saloons, because !
certain saloons have been the refuge |
of criminals and because in the hands |
of bad men the business has been
used to promote crime and fire the |
blood with base passions. The Even
ing Post has for years been warning /
against the lawless saloons of this
city. 1t has pointed to the crimes
traced to drink. 1t has turned the
light upon the political activities of
such saloons. 1t has shown the al
lance that has existed among Grim
inals in politics, criminals in the sa
loon business and professional GRIM
inals generally.
Now we see the responsible men
everywhere, awake to the necessity
in the interest of good government
an in the interest of more orderly
society, ready to consider any propo-
sition for the proper regulation of
this traffic.
Bonfort's Wine & Spirit Circular,
in recent number, prints the report
of the executive committee of the
New York Wholesale Liquor Dealers
Association which says:
1--WE believe that our business
should be so regulated by legislation
that those few dealers who by per-
sistent violation of the law contrive
to bring upon our business odium
and criticism may be denied the priv
ilege of further continuing in the
business.
1--WE believe that the dealer who
violates the law is the greatest men
ace to the welfare of our business and
the most serious obstacle to Its es-
tablishment on plane merited by
the general character of the great
majority of those engaged therein.
1--WE believe that the burden is up
on those engaged in the industry SO
to purge it of it's attendant evils that
II will no longer be subject to the at ,
tacks and criticism of those who are
seeking to uplift its moral tone |,
The New York Sum-, in comment {
ing upon these resolutions, says that (
in tone and manner they show a
change in the attitude OF s
the liquor trade toward legislation
from that assumed only a few years q
ago" within comparative brief
oeriod the liquor manufacturers and s
sellers we're violently opposed to the q
legislation affecting their traffic, but r
offtttAo /