Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1908-06-15
PROHIBITION PLANK THE TWILIGHT z0NE|
IN DEMOCRATIC STATE PLATFORM
Considered.
True to the Principles OfOemOCraCy,
the State Platform of That PARTY
Advocates Reference of the Liquor
Question TO the People, Where IT
Bcl0ngS.

favor the submission to the
pt of Washington of a constitu-
VIZ amendment prohibiting the
cture or sale of spirituOus Ii
sinn nithin our borders-Demo-
of sate Platform.
dricht amount of discussion has
beenDy thendered by the prohibition
planklill tinted by the democratic
state cofh@ntion. The week before,
the republican convention declared
in favor of local option. This was
recognized at that time and was gem
less. The republican party has been
in power in this state for years. If
any desire were present within the
ranks of the republican party to
change the status of the liquor prob
lem in this state, plenty of opportu-
nifty has been afforded to do so. The
Legislature has had power at any
time to model such laws as it desired.
Since it has taken no action, it is
reasonable to suppose that it desired
none.
Local option is but another way of
stating the present condition. Le-
gally, any person of good moral char
acter who complies with the cOndi-
tiOns regulating the saloon traffic,
may own or operate a saloon in
Washington. In reality, public Opin-
ion enters largely into the question of
cases is this public opinion disre-
garded. This is in reality local op-
tion. Hence for the republican party
to adopt local option plank is to de-
clare that present conditions shall
continue, which is equal to saying
nothing at all.
A great moral wave is sweeping
over this country, and the west is be-
ginning to echo the feeling in the
east. Belief regarding the benefits
or disadvantages of prohibition is as
Cotly NdllCu Ill tiuy lOCdlIIy do IL 10
in the state. Many there are who do
not believe in or practice total abb
stinence who yet favor a legal prohi-
bition of the traffic in intoxicants.
And there are plenty of other good
and intelligent citizens who demand
that no legal infringements be placed
on personal privileges.
The republican party is attempt
ing to placate both sides of the ques-
tion by keeping present conditions,
and making everybody like it. That
party would make friends with the
liquor interests by giving prohibition
only to those who demand it, or in
other words, those who already have
it. And that party would also at
tempt to make friends with the pro-
hibition element by giving them what
they already have, but with another
name. 1t is a game where all fac
tions win-win the pleasure of keep
ing what they already have.
In contradistinction to this anon
alous position is the plank of the
democratic party. Democracy has
ever advocated that the people should
be their own arbiters, and in this
i state the party deems it not only just
but wise that the question should be
4 left to the people for decision, in
stead of to legislature with not
a too savory reputation for the last ten
4 years. No recommendation is made
Il for or against the question. No
a equivocation is attempted that might
a serve to make friends under a mis-
81 taken apprehension. Let the people
III decide what they will have. and then
n there can be no ground for appeal.
Nj The pros and cons of the question
ia of prohibition may be relegated tC
"A their proper time and place. The
one matter of Importance which is UP
a for decision this year is whether the
"a people shall be given their right to
M make the decision, or whether an as
n selnbly of legislative tools shall be
given the chance to usurp this pre-
Erogative. 1t is matter of vital i'm
Eportance to the state, and must re-
Eceive the careful attention of every
&citizen. Prohibition itself is not the
Tissue. 1t is left for future determi
nation in any event. But the ques
Etion as to who shall make this de
determination is now before the people
land it should be thoughtfully de
moidnd -Ho1uilla EYa inar