The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-09-17
wHEcH SHOULD THE INIT?


option, yet there is a very material
difference IN these pledges whlch
should be taken into consideration by
the voters, assuming that the former
Intends to carry out their pledges IN
case OF the success OF their ticket.
There were SO many Of the pledges OF
two years ago repudiated that some
may have great doubt as to what
will be done at the next session Of
the legislature.
The difference between the two
platforms is that the republican
plank makes the county the unit
and the democratic platform makes
the community or the municipality
the unit TO make the county the
unit would have the same effect OF
leaving the state vote upon the ques-
Lion as to whether we should have a
state pr0hibitOry law. To have a
state prohibitOry law there would he
communities or counties where the
sentiment was not ripe TOR prohibit
ton, and as result such law could
not be enforced. because there was
not pronounced sentiment in that
direction.
AS an Illustration Lemhi county
could be taken as an example of how
the different ideas would work. In
case the republicans should win the
legislature and passed local option
law, where the county was the unit,
the rural districts might and pcs
sibly would vote TO abolish the saloons
while the majority Of the vote in
Salmon would be directly the oppO-
site. The effect would he in that case
that majority in the city opposing
prohibition would lie pirma facie
evidence that Il e sentiment of the
town was in favor of permitting the
saloons to run, and for that reason
prohibition could not be enforced.
II the legislature should be demo-
cratic and local option law was
passed where the community Or the
were the unit the vote
would be In the locality in which the
saloon directly affects. If the town
OF Salmon would vote to put the sa.
looms out Of business it would be
pretty good evidence that the pre-
ponderance OF the sympathy was
with the movement, and the officers
Of the law would be forced to enforce
the law whether they wanted to or
not.
In case the republican idea of local
option prevails it is questionable
whether it would be made to work
In many OF the counties Of the state.
This would be particularly true of
Lemhi county. The efforts to en-
force the anti-gambling law and the
Sunday closing law in this place in
The past two years is an illustration
,f what might occur with local op-
ion. The sentiment has largely
been In favor Of the enforcement of
'hese laws, and the efforts of the Off.
'ers In this direction Is sustained by
he majority, which means the best
itzens Of the locality.
If the majority OF the sentiment
vas not in favor of the enforcement
i these laws now on the statute
ooks the efforts OF the officials would
e futile. 1t would be the same If |
he saloons were voted oct of bust
ess 10y majority vote In other sec
ions OF the county, while the vote of
he town was In favor of maintain.
~ the saloons, assuming that the
ointment Of the town was in that
ERECTION.
the Recorder believes 10 the funda-
rental principles upon which this
overnment was founded that the
should rule. When this
rinciple can be made to apply to the |
nallest possible unit In our civil |
overnment then it can be made to
ork effectively. For the reasons
iven above The Recorder believes
hat the argument is in favor of the
lank upon local option adopted by
he democrats. All the expense of |
he enforcement of this law would
evolve upon the local community.
nd not upon the county.
The la~ which complies with COM
lunity sentiment is the law which
an be enforced, To enforce pro. !
ibitory law In Salmon the commun- |
y would have To support the officers
the law and not the county. This |
oald be true because Salmon has a
government, and is forced
employ men to enforce the city or
finances, and state laws as they an
Iy TO municipalities. For this rea.
m the city or community upon
hich this expense falls should saw
neither or not it will undertake 10
lforce prohibition.
In county local option all sections
the county would Toe in position
say, because they have tie major
y OF votes, what the people of Sal
on should do and the manner in
hich it would handle the liouor
iestion. To sum the matter up in