Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1908-05-26

there Is ample evidence that IL Is mo-
prohibition at all, but merely sham
and pretense. Stories Of drunkenness
disorder and crime have become sc
common that they no longer excite
wonder, even though coming from
supposedly dry localities. Here IL
just late sample from Lincoln
county. 1t Is a clipping from the
Portland Journal of last Friday, and
is headed, Indians, Liquor, Daggers,
Death"
Toledo, Or, May 22-Newt Sutton. an
Indian, came to Toledo yesterday and
got supply OF whiskey. On his re-
| turn home he was met at the SiletZ
river by Ira Strong and Stewart Roo
ney. The three turned back and went
to W. Nj. Metcalf's house, where they
engaged in brawl. Rooney fatally
wounded both Strong and Sutton
several times. Strong and Sutton are
about 20 years old. Rooney is about
So. No arrests have yet been made.
"Came to Toledo and got supply
of whiskey!" And Toledo In a dry
county! And Sutton an Indian and
minor! Does this sound like pro-
hibition that prohibits?
Now, we get around to Polk county
county that has never voted for
prohibition. What are the true con-
ditions here? A county where drunken
ness is Iare, and crime is almost
unknown. A county of $1,000 inhabi-
tants, and yet one whose jail stands
empty month after month, au abode
for the bats and the owls. A county
in whose court dockets criminal case
is seldom found. A county that has
five hundred loggers and mill hands
within its borders, and yet can cele-
brate Fourth Of July or other public
day without single case of disorder.
What class OF men are these loggers?
Respectable, industrious men, who
work hard for their money, and who
can spend their leisure hours 10
harmless amusement without a resort
ing to misbehavior-the kind Of men
who are good citizens anywhere. The
writer bad charge Of news
paper property in Falls City for
several months last year, and he does
not recall the arrest OF one Of these
men for crime or disorder during the
entire time. We mention these things
merely to disprove the claim that a
license county attracts the rough and
lawless element.
The financial phase OF the problem
can be dismissed in few words. 1t
Is not true that taxes are lower in the
local option towns than In the towns
where saloons contribute to the public
revenue. A moments thought will
convince any taxpayer Of this fact.
1t takes a certain amount Of money to
carry on the government Of any town,
and when any amount of license rev.
enue is cut off, the deficiency has to be
made up by taxation OF property. |
Taxes are not lower in the towns of |
Benton or Linn or Yamhill than they
we're four years ago. 1t Is true that |
he rate OF levy In mills is lower, but, |
as in Polk county, the assessed valu-
alton OF property has been doubled. |
The rate Of levy means nothing unless
one also considers the rate OF property
valuation. In Albany, for example,
where it is claimed that taxes are
over, 7-mill levy in 1907 raised
nearly $4,000 more than an S-mill
evy raised when the county was wet,
or the reason that the assessed valu-
ltlon had been doubled In the mean
ime. As the city lost only $4,000 a
'ear in license after the saloons we're
'losed, 1t will be seen that taxes have
lot been reduced In Albany, as is
'laimed by the prohibitionists, but on
he contrary, have been increased
over $4,000 a year. These
lgures are taken from the Albany
Morning Herald, and there is no
eason to doubt their accuracy. But,
IS we have already remarked, the
question should not be placed on a
'asis OF dollars and cents. 1t Is a
question Of public morality and
Iecency, and financial considerations
hould have no place in its discussion.
The worth OF a human soul is not
Measured in money.
The Observer has no more interest
n this question than that OF any
itizen Of the county, but 1t does desire
D set forth its opinions and convic-
Ions, honestly and openly, just as it
as always endeavored TO do on any
ubiect OF public Importance. Some
here 10 a book that is we'll thought
{, we read that Noah planted a vine
ard and made wine and became
runken. The sons OF men have been
laking and drinking intoxicating
averages ever since, and it is not
nreasor sble 10 presume that they
Ill continue to do so until the end OF
me. Nations aud peoples have :
ruggled with the drink evil for /
snturies, and the solution Of the 2
roblem is seemingly as far away as I
FER. 1t is idle to think that the !
quor trafilc can be abolished, and !
ie duty OF mankind Is to work {
gether, diligently and conscien- )
ously. To raduca its evil raanlta A., ,h. :
inimum. The system OF license and 1
gulatiOn is, in our opinion. the best 5
an that has yet been offered for the I
'lution Of the problem. Not prohl-
tion that does not prohibit but
gulation that re0ulates