The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-07-03


islature has the right to pass such a
measure, and should they assume the
right, it would not be law. There
can be no law that gives the people
an option on bartering away the pub
lie peace, the public safety, and the
public morals" He strongly urged
taking advantage of our present pro-
hibitory laws with statewide prohi-
bition the end to be obtained The
saloon men of America differ in their
position from Judge Richards. In a
recent issue of "Boufort's Wine and
Spirits CirculaE" the leading organ
of the liquor traffic in America, in
which it endorses local option, says:
Localities should be allowed to
choose say once every few years
whether they will have saloons or Ii
censes to sell in original packages,
or prohibition" Of course, it is well
understood that this position obtains
only when liquor men are sore
crowded by threatened prohibition.
Such endorsement of local option,
however, calls for no lengthy COM
ment before body of intelligent
thinking women
Articles, section "a, of the state
! constitution reads: "The first con-
Germ of all good government is the
virtue and sobriety of the people and
the purity of the home. The legisla-
ture should further all we'll directed
efforts for the promotion of temper
ance and morality Dare We ask
! that they violate their oath of Office
in passing measure empowering
| by right of ballot the enemies of the
state to destroy it's peace and sobrie-
ty? Would not such step border
upon treason to our state? Treason
defined, is adhereing to the enemies
of the state, or giving them aid or
comfort. All are willing to concede
the liquor traffic to be an enemy Of
the state. The United tSates supreme
court has taken judicial knowledge
of the fact that '"The statistics of ev-
cry state shows gerater amount of
crime and misery attributable to the
use of ardent spirits obtained at
these retail liquor saloons than to
any other source" Local option, af-
ter high license, is the only comfort
for the brewer, distiller and saloon
keeper when statutory prohibition
threatens to put them out of bust
ness. 1t is their only hope of aid
or defnse. A well directed effort"
we believe would be the laying of
the axe of prohibition at the root of
this deadly repas tree leaving not
branch or twig to survive the cut
ting. Who shall say we are not ready
for statewide prohibition with the
provisions made by our state legis
lature which have been quoted. What
we need at present is several hum
dred prayers that our faith will reach
the work that does not limit the pow
err of God. This modern Goliath that
so insolently seeks to capitalize our
citizenship should be met by a Dan
lei Of public sentiment, that darcs to
go forth in the name of God of Is
rael, not to cripple but to kill. The
womanhood of Idaho comprises one
half of the voting population of the
state Our chief concern is the safe
ty of our homes. Let us arise and
assert our sovereign rights to this
end Let our watchword be "No
compromise for the Gem State" and
let us write upon banners the in
scription, For God and Home and
IDAHO" Then in solid phalanx march
to the state house and demand of our
lawmakers in the name of the Great
Jehovah and the constitution of Ida
no our rights and the rights Of our
chilrren to life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness.
Remembering "He Is faithful who
hath promised. There shall not any
man be able to stand before thee. AS
I was with Moses so will be with
thee. will not fail thee, nor for
sake thee"