The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-04-15

so much more desirable as a place
OF residence. hundreds of people
have moved across the river and
have found clean homes where before
was located he vilest of Sums.
Now come the fruit growers and
farmers OF Yakima declaring they
will clean out the saloons in North
Yakima The connection between
North Yakima and the smaller
Kansas City can be nothing else but
obvious 1t all SINNERS down to
point of taxation and the fruitgrow-
ers with the farmers, who. by the
way. constitute the backbone of this
section. declare that the revenue Sc
cured from North Yakima saloons is
not equal to the amount paid by
county property owners in the ex-
pense of criminal trials and fees OF
courts.
Here will no attempt be made to
comment one way or another on the
justice of the fruit growers opinion.
But it is sufficient to say Prosecuting
Attorney Wende threw down the
gauntlet by declaring the entire ex-
pense of the Flanney murder trial
could be traced to whiskey. The
original murder. he says, was caused
by whiskey. The second trial re-
suited from a spree of a juryman.
One of the exhibits in the case was
pint of whiskey Untouched as It
was, he sees in it symbol of the
10000 odd dollars spent by the
county to determine whether this
Indian should hang or go to the peni-
Tertiary for term with chance OF
pardon.
1t is safe TO estimate. and conserv-
atively as we'll. that more than half
of all crimes committed are directly
or indirectly attributable to the de-
sire for alcohol. Not a Judge on the
bench; not prosecuting attorney.
scarcely a defending lawyer but will
back up this statement with a hum
dred incidents and scores of cases.
If this statement is true: If it is
found that logically whiskey is the
cause for the greater number Of
crimes if alcohol is so much king
can there be any doubt in the minds
OF reasonable men that their homes
would be safer: their business more
secure and their taxation lighter
without the dire influence OF this
drink?
1t is not necessary to shower
maledictions on the head of the
bartender. Like all others they are
securing the means To continue q
: ruggle for existence in the dispens-
ina of Intoxicating drinks.
This fact is known. Men who
+ have tho strongest desire to find sat
istaction in the drink that inebriates
are men who would be the first 20
abolish the saloon: to place entirely
out Of sight the drink which they
declare is their greatest curse. Is 1t
reasonable to suppose that the
diunkard, the nominal drinker; the
man who finds solace in the flowing
bow would stand before the bar and
the very bartender, declaring as he
drinks that he hates the saloon and
the liquor dispensed if he did not
I find as well the evil which goes with
the temporary pleasure? Here is
meant no lecture on prohibition. An
attempt has been made merely to
use common sense.
But il seems apparent that band
of men like the fruit growers and
farmers who have demonstrated
themselves in practical way TO be
the back bone of the Yakima valley
would not enter blndly into any
common cause which could do aught
else but advance their material pros
perity and their moral welfare. In
1.-THE move which they are making can
be found sufficient reason for cold.
sober personal consideration as TO
the evils and benefits of the saloon.