The Seattle Republican., 1908-12-04

Prohibition has been tried and found wanting Lo-1
cal option is theory that never made good The result
of the election many of the Eastern states that
had adopted Local Option demon
Prohibition Failure strated that the people would not
Local Option Theory tolerate law that would abridge
their constitutional rights. Local
Option like Prohibition in many of our New England
states after years of bitter experience to the taxpayers
has been repudiaed Candidates for Congress- Tor the
Governorshp for the legislature and state Offices stand
ing on Local Option issue have been ANONYMOUSLY de-
feated and swept off the political map. Candidates for
the offices mentioned in Indiana, which recently adopted
Local Option and in Ohio the birthplace of the AntSa
loon League have been by the vote of the fair minded
citizens submerged in cold water bath and sunk In
ltca oblivion Will the people of the State of Washing
ton profit by the experience of other sate7 Nearly ev
cry state in the Union that adopted Prohibition or Local
Option has cast it off, Why? Because it does not pro-
hbt Because it be enforced because the senti
of the people against its enforcement and such
being the local officers cannot convictions un
der it. Because does stop the sale of liquor it
obvious, that all who want whiskey can obtain it. Be-
simply transfers the sale of liquor from licensed
saoonkeepers to makeshft druggists blind pggers and
men who have interest in good order morality taxa
ton. Because many who talk prohibition on the
street and in church whskey by and drink
it as they always did Because these hypo
critics and this law which they created partakes Of their
nature who will lie other occasion go
drug and lie like Troans to obtain liquor under
the law Because under its workings whskey sod and
no but the Government realizes for its sale
Because its enforcement is worse than mockery Be-
everybody of the condition of affairs and
contempt and dsrespec for all law is bred and fostered
Because ruess efforts to convict known volaors of this
law increase upon aw-abidng citizens Because
reards immigration and sends lovers of personal liberty
and capital seeking investment into less favored states
Because the laws most ardent supporters discredted
preachers and never-swea class " who it to promote
personal ambitions the detrment of the people Be-
cause people often tolerate joints because they know
that farmers will not trade where they cannot buy u
Because the law induces people to keep whskey in
the home and drink regularly who would perhaps drink
it occasionally in hghcense saloon. Because it is built
theory contrary to human nature-Forbid people
to do anything and they will do it to show their indie
pendence. Because property who profess to be
temperance will rent their buildings to whom
they know traffczers in liquors. Because peo
pe many of them politicians talk Local Option with whis
key-aden breath. Because it makes criminal Of the
who sells liquor and stultes and makes sneaks of
citizens who buy it. Because it decreases the con-
sumption of beer and light Wines and increases the of
cheap whiskey, which increases drunkenness promotes
immortality and adds to the death rate from alcoholic
Because the cost of Prohibition is generally de
preston in business suffering and loss in non-employ
men of labor animosities engendered among citizens
srinkage in the value of property increase in the
Der of vacant buildings loss rent want of confidence in
the stability of legislation for the protection of property
uncertainty of future increased of taxation and
nous court expenses Because the law is sentimental,
and not practical Because it is demoralzing the
community and the correct solution to the liquor
question. JAMES w. MORRISON.
Many years ago the U. S. Supreme Court rendered