The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-02-27

is the least liquor law to promise tn
people in their party platform, bu
prefer ably an absolute prohibition
law.
The Recorder believes that th,
people will demand some form OF ley
islation upon the liquor question al
the next session OF the legislature
and woe betide the party In power
which refuses to heed the wishes oi
the people. This naper does not be
lleve, however, that the state Of
Idaho is yet ripe for prohibition
Until the sentiment Of the people is
In favor of the enforcement Of such a
law IL would be folly to place ID upon
statute books, because 1t could not be
enforced. There are two laws on the
statute books at the present time
the Sunday closing and the anti
gambling law which IL is "A hard mat
ter TO enforce In some localities be-
cause the sentiment Is not generally
In favor Of their enforcement.
1t Is to be admitted that there Is "A
wave OF reform, In the liquor traflic,
going over the country which must
be needed by the state legislatures
demanding that some restrictive
measures be enacted. The sentiment
In evidence In the last session o! the
legislature is conclusive in regard to
this statement. The high license
bill which passed year ago this win
ter was compromise measure, but
IL satisfied no one but the saloon men
In the larger cities. This law has
crowded out the small saloon In the
rural districts and created an aristoc-
racy In the saloon business, and is
generally unsatisfactory.
The Recorder Is in favor of local
option law, because such law could
he enforced. The sentiment In every
community could be Diet rmined by
vote upon this question. II the
vote In a community was not In favor
OF the adjustment of the saloon 1t
would be prima facia evidence that
the citizens In such community
would not stand back OF the officers
In their efforts to enforce an absolute
prohibitOry law. A local option law
would make it possible for every local
ity to vote upon the question of a
saloon or no saloon at least once In
two years, If not every year. Ii the
was in favor of Its abol.
lshmenu then IL wunfd-~s,e~aassenssI
matter for the officers to suppress
the blind pigs AID dogrells which
would be inevitable under state pro.
hibitory law which was not endorsed
by the citizens Of locality.
While there are many who are un-
alterably In favor OF absolute prohib-
ltion, yet IL Is one of the fundament-
al principles of our government that
The majority should rule. The prin.
,iple OF self government should par
licularly apply to the community as
we'll as to the state and nation. I'm.
der local option every community
would have the largest measure of
'elf government. For the reasons
given above The Recorder is in favor
If the democratic state platform con-
aiming a plank promising to the peo-
Die local option law Ia case the par
" should be successful at the polls.
This paper Is proud of the fact that
most OF the democratic mem bers of !
10Th the house and senate voted for
he local option measure which was
Up In the legislature last winter. So
lid many republican members do so,
nut when the Mormon members In
10Th the house and senate voted |
gainst the bin it was a foregone con.
fusion that the bill could not pass.
'ecauSe this element holds the bal.
nee of power, and do not hesitate to
se 1t when they can conserve the In
crest of the so-called religious organ
cation to which they belong, by do.
ng so. The Recorder hopes that the
sgislative can 1idates on the demo.
ratio ticket In this county this fall
I'LL be pledged to vote for local op-
lon law, regardless Of what stand
he party takes In the state platform.