The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-04-24
THE WARNING OUT.


fight between the Astoria police COM
mission, common council, and shriev-
atty of Clatsop, as to which element
shall enforce the laws of State and
city against the law-breakers in the
matter of saloons and their conduct,
and amongst which stools of conten-
ton the wholesome desire for an
orderly and well-regulated commun-
ity, cherished by the people, falls to
the ground, inert and imperative, has
been borne about as long as public
suffrance intends and there is going
to be something done before the June
election. and after it, that will bring
the officials to their senses, or we are
very much mistaken in the popular
temper.
The warning is out, in the shape OF
petitions for local option; the patience
of the citizens may be reduced to
point where the use of such expe-
dients shall prove far more effective
than the mere demand that the oftl-
GERS, charged with the maintenance OF
the law, do their duty; in which case
there is no appeal, no resort, no way
round, nothing but the prompt with
drayal from a business that cannot,
confessedly, be conducted within the
law. - = 81 . -
There.is a strong contingent OF
Astoria citizens who do not believe
in this procedure at this time, because
il is inopportune, and liable to con-
flict seriously with many specific and
desirable improvements and advant-
ages now imminent;. and this atti-
tude may avert the concrete express
sion of popular reprisal for sometime
to come; but even in that event, it
will not allay the sentiment to en-
ploy it later on. For these reasons, 1t
is essential that the saloon men OF
Astoria shall get within range OF the
necessities of the hour and come out
for square observance of the law
in all its details. We do not want the
intefvention of local option, nor do
MANY of its adherents, but if it is the
only thing that will make the men
already bonded to keep the law, OBJ
serve that bond and the law, then It
will be used for all it is worth an@
those who may suffer may lay the
unAattering junction" of it all to
their own stupidity and cupidity.
There is a growing dislike for ex-
treme measures in the application OF
the simple and straight laws of the
land and feeling Of resentment
when the necessity arises for public
expression on such question; and
one of the extremities is in force and
place whenever a city is asked to go
on its marrow-bones to any given
business for the better observance OF
the very laws that business is bonded
to faithfully observe. 1t is squarely
up to the saloons of Astoria to do the
right thing, such Of them as are not
doing it; for default now, may mean
al burden of loss and defeat later on
that will put them where they will
have no saloon law to observe from
the standpoint of a licensed dealer.
The officers of the law have their
share of interest in this proposition.
They are responsible for the appre-
hension Of every known offender
against the law, and if they fail and
refuse to do their duty, or make a
"shuttle-cock" of that duty by trying
to pass it on to some other officer or
department, they are, indirectly, par
ticeps criminis and should be treat
ed on that principle, and are likely
to go up against just such handling,
if the public temper is further aroused
on this subject