The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-07-31
Discussing the Liquor Question


quoted: "The liquor traffic has NJ
inherent right to exist and is classet
with gambling, opium eating ant
prostitution. Said admission clear
ly proves the unconstitutionality o
the liquor traffic and the wrong o
option on the question. In local op
ton vote where the saloon elemen
is in the majority the traffic is tyran
nically forced upon the law abidint
element and is given the right to ex
list despite their expressed prOtes
through their right of ballot. Sucf
conditions are acknowledged by al
to represent the most CALLING kind o.
taxation without representation.
Again the saloon JOneses do mo-
"pay the freight"
3. We agree, THAT no state
should desire that any of its citizens
should become drunkards.' Neither
should any state consent to portion
of her citizenship becoming drunk
ards if a majority of the people SC
rule in certain parts of her common
wealth. In the words of Seaborn
Wright, "A state is what her people
are When a state gives an option
on the most damable of all evils she
makes covenant with death and
and agreement with hell.
A.. Voters should have direct
vote on the saloon question" Every
advocate of the liquor traffic will
heartily agree with that unqualified
proposition, relying, when such a
personal liberty vote is taken upon
blood money to regulate the ballor
system to their interest, said regula-
tor not to take into consideration the
slaves who, through debauched par
enthood, have been denied a birth
right of freedom and equality
4 s. The voter who would not OPP
emily stand against the saloon can
not be depended upon to do so In
a secret ballot. A petition is as
much the voice of the people as the
written ballot; and when 1t bids
abatement of the saloon nuisance the
good citizen should not bubble over
the basis of action. A
6. ANY prohibition of the liquor
traffic should have back Of It the will
of the majority of the people, ex-
pressed by the secret ballot" There
is no logic in the secret baloot argu-
ment. A demand by such a line OF
action can be met, however, by Sec
ret ballot. For constitutional prohi-
bition without the unholy compro-
mise of option between good and evil.
q. Educational campaigns can be
carried on in Idaho by taking ad-
vantage of her present local prohibi-
ton laws and on the direct line of no
compromise.
8. Local option is fair to all"
should be corrected to read: mot
fair at ALL Not fair to dependent
childhood; not fair to the victim of
alcohol who has lost the will to pro-
tect himself; not fair to the mother
who must surrender her boy to be
sacrificed where the majority rule;
not fair to the harlot who depends
upon drink to drown her womanhood
that she may continue her downward
career; not fair to the men who are
willing to barter away their own
souls and the souls of their fellow
men in exchange for the revenue de-
rived from the capitalization of our
Fair to all?" No, not
fair at all
9. Idaho is ahead of Nevada, Wy
oming and other states in the union
that do not have statewide prohibit
ton, having already local prohibit
ton law that if taken advantage OF
would put two-thirds of the state UNI
der prohibition today. Instead OF
crying for more locals" let us ask
our General Manager to give us
express that makes stops
only at the grand terminal of state
wide prohibition.
10. The thinking class do not
desire it," and they contend they
are in the majority in Idaho. The
brewers and distillers lead in the de-
mand for local option to defeat the
stronger measure of prohibition. This
reason alone should defeat the pass
age of a local option bill. Prohibit
ton is the only method in harmony
with the law of God in dealing with
any evil. The devil will argue for
OpIIOH CFCiy Time.
Summary.
The liquor traffic has not com
plete control in Idaho" Meridian,
Star, South Boise, Gooding, Moscow,
Malad, Troy, and other places have
taken advantage of the local prohi-
bition law and are under saloon dom
nation. If the statement that THE
of the people are addicted to
the drink habit and demand the open
saloon and its attendant evils" was
correct then it would prove futile
attempt to close the saloon under
local option measure. Prohibition Is
a necessity under such conditions, 1t
being the only method that will put
out the fires of hell in the breweries