The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-06-29
SAL00NKEEPER
CAMPAIGN

Knights of the Royal Arch, an or
ganization of liquor men, cigar
dealers and allied lines, was out
lined at a meeting held yesterday
by William Bachrach, who has
been appointed organizer for the
eastern Washington district. The
purpose of the organization is to
combat compulsory prohibition. Mr.
Bachrach spoke on the subject of
Prohibition or Regulation" He
said:
This is the question to be con-
sidered and passed upon by the
voters of the states and counties
and towns of this country. Re-
move the Objectionable features
from the saloon and prohibition
dies a natural death. The most
powerful argument the prohibition
sist can present Is the drunken
man Keeling from the doors of
saloon. Let us then, as good citi-
zens, realize the danger that sur
rounds the sale OF an article that
appeals so strongly to the taste
and passions of so many men, ad
wise and urge the retailers all over
the country in all their associations
to expel any member who sells to
customers who are of Incorporate
habits. Not a drop to man who
cannot control himself. Let us put
ourselves right as a business be-
fore our fellowmen. Let us cut
off, root and branch, the minors,
the drunkard, the tramp, the Grim
inal the dance hall, and the vicious
of every class and kind.
I'VE should adopt a model Ii.
cense law and urge every city,
town and county to put it in force.
We should urge the retailers to
adopt stringent code of bylaws
for the government of their mem
bers. When. by our own efforts,
We have stripped our business of
all ground for just complaint, we
can as business appeal to the lib.
eral minded for fair treatment.
Il strongly urge the enactment
of sound, wholesome laws looking
to the regulation of the sale of
liquors, the restriction of licenses
to respectable men, who will in
Atime raise the sale of drinks to
position Of such responsibility that
/ saloons will become something
I like clubs for men of small means
and far from any just ground OF
complaint. There exists in every
country and in every locality a
class of unfortunate people who in
their fits of dependency indulge to
excess in strong drink, or if drink
is not to be had, in strong drugs.
The saloons should refuse to sell
them-let not their misery be laio
at our door. The whole commun-
fly should not be made to suffer
for the weakness of a few.
''In my opinion, if the situation
is properly put before the people,
they will repudiate any prohibition
measure or any that is not a rea-
sonable once. The campaign of
education must be commenced at
once, for If you do not. the people
will be misled as in other states,
and if you procrastinate and delay
it will be too late to do any good,
for the A. S. l.. will have accom-
plished their object. Their move
ment is not one for the suppression
of the evil nor is their movement
one for the regulation of the liquor
traffic. They are just what their
name implies. They are for the
prohibition of the manufacture and
sale of liquor in the state of Wash
ington.
THE cry of the A. S. L., who
have industriously placed the prop
osition of prohibition before the
people through the churches and
other ways, has caught the ear
They purposely leave out any refer
ence to the law the people will
fasten on themselves when they
vote for the local option PROPOSE
ton. What will be the result
should they succeed? The brew
er, wholesaler and retailer in this
state, as in others, will be despoil-
ed of their property without any
compensation by the vote cast I'M
der the influence of the A. S. l..
speakers and writers. These prop
critics will be absolutely useless
and consist merely of brick and
mortar untitled for any other pur-
poses, will aggregate many mil
lions of dollars, and such confisca-
ton must invariably prove a great
blow to the prosperity of this
state.
THE loss of revenue must also
be serious, should they succeed.
Experience teaches and common
sense proves there will be no re-
form, there will be no lessening of
the consumption of alcoholic bev-
erages, there will be no falling off
in intemperance, there will be
great decentralization throughout
the state, and an additional burden
will be placed upon the backs OF
the remaining taxpayers to enforce
an impossible statute.
I'VE must through publicity in
form the people before too late as
to the real merits involved and
the folly of the proposition repre-
scented to them and drawn up by
the Anti-Saloon league.
las a matter of fact, everyone |
have talked with, when they under
stand the situation, is against it. |
Fire-eating speeches on either side
will do more harm than good. |
Threats OF drastic laws in case of
defeat by either side will only |