Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1909-09-24
LOCAL OPTION ELECTION

The people of Whitman county are
to be given the first opportunity they
have ever had to say whether or not
saloons shall be tolerated in the coun-
ty and in the towns. A special cleo
ton under the provisions of the new
local option law, for which Whit
man county people have long clam
ored is to be held on November 80.
But one question will be decided at
that time and that question is:
shall we continue to have saloons?"
Every precinct will be given an OPP
portunity to express its desires.
There will be no personality, but
simply a question of retaining sa-
looms where they are now located, or
allowing them where there are none
at present.
There are thirteen incorporated
towns in Whitman county in which
elections will be held on November
30 to decide this question. Six of
these have no saloons. These
are Pullman Garfield Oakesdale,
Pennington, Elberton and st. John.
But these towns will vote on the ques-
ton at the special election and it is
believed that they will all decide
to remain in the dry" column, but
the election will take the question
out of politics and it will not enter
into the city election to be held in
December, just one week after the
a special election.
There are seven Incorporated
towns in Whitman county which have
saloons. These are Uniontown, Col
fax and Endicott. If the people at
the special election say these towns
shall continue to have saloons they
will remain. If majority says they
don't want saloons they will be driv-
en- from the towns. This is just. 1t
Is self-government, the foundation OF
American liberty. Heretofore the
people have not had the say about
these things. They elected men who
might, or might not carry out the
wishes of the majority Under the
new law they must obey the orders
given at the special election. The
people will not vote for men to en-
force their wishes, but will simply
say at that time whether they want
saloons.
There is no doubt there will be
bitter fight in some of the towns.
Colfax, Tekoa and Palouse are eX
pected to put up bitter fight to re-
tain saloons and vast sums will be
spent by the liquor interests of those
places and the wholesale houses
which supply them, but the advo
Gates of no saloons express confidence
that they will win in at least two OF
the three places mentioned. At Pa
louise many more than the necessary
80 per cent. of the voters needed to
call a special election were secured
in less than one day, and many of
the signers were men who have here
tofore been regarded as in favor of
saloons. At Endicott so of the IS
voters in the town signed the petit
tons calling for a special election on
the first day they were circulated.
Pullman is expected to give a big
majority in favor of remaining dry"
and it is certain that every one of
the other five dry" towns will give
majorities in favor of dispensing with
the ginmills, for these towns, which
have all tried both conditions, and
know better than the towns which
have always had saloons whether or
not the saloons are a benefit, are
satisfied to get along without sa-
looms. The temperance people are
making a quiet, but vigorous cam
paign and the result of the election
will be awaited with interest. 1t Is
a safe bet that the number OF dry
towns will be increased after the
election.