Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-09-03
THE OBSERVERS POSITION.

1 II - ~ - I'iNiN i<iN - . DD' . . 80
The Observer in its last two issues
goes into the subject of prohibition
at great length and denounces it as a
dismal failure. 1t tells how it work
| ed in Canada and In the state OF
Maine. It's editors personal expert
ence was in the former country,
where he supported prohibition for
twenty years. but there came time
when he had to recognize it as "a
failure and an evil" In commenc-
ing its article this week the Observer
boastingly claims that 1t Is controlled
by no man or combination of men
and further on In the same article
says There Is just one man who in
fluences and controls the Oregon
Observer and that man Is the pub
Usher Of it, the editor of It," Such
boasting is hardly good policy, as it
may make people add that 1t does
not represent anything, which would
OF course be wrong, as 1t will be
shown whenever the question of pro-
hibition as a public policy Is dis
cuss.
This liquor question is very old
In Bible history 1t Is prominent and
in those days did nothing but evil
Later st. Paul said to the Colossians,
Touch not, taste not, handle not"
In all ages 1t has left its mark on the
human race by the misery 1t has
caused. In our own times and coun-
try 1t has brought ruin in its path
and the trouble has been to find a
way to control its ravages There
have been temperance organizations
and temperance crusades and news
papers have given space in their
columns to the cause and many Of
them have served even longer than
did our brother of the Observer with
out giving up the fight and going
over to the enemy.
He who takes up the battle against
the liquor evil gives his best efforts
to his fellow man and he must not,
like the editor of the Observer, grow
weary in well doing.
He says that prohibition does not
prohibit. That is often true, but
II Is certainly restraint and helps
to protect the community. The law
against murder is often, in every
community to some extent, a failure.
Would the Observer repeal It? The
laws against crimes generally often
fail, yet no one thinks of wiping
them off the statute books.
The Courier does not claim to be
wise in its own conceit, but is al
ways glad to get information from
acknowledged sources of wisdom and
1t tries to represent the best thought.
the best interest of our city and
county and In all respects be Of serv-
Ice to the cause Of humanity. When
1t comes to what is known as the
whiskey traffic, It advocates no
saloons, and no Illicit sales. 1t has
no sympathy with those who would
license the traffic. II would not
give whiskey the protection of law
by a license any quicker than It
would other evils.
The Courier knows that there are
men and newspapers who favor H.
.ccnse and while we accord to these
the right to think and do as they
please It cannot agree with them.
To the best Of our knowledge and
information the Observer Is mistaken
as to the workings Of prohibition in
this city Mayor Kinney speaks most
oncouraglngly Of the situation and
fully believes that In time the Illicit
sale Of intoNicants will be nearly, or
quite done away with. The chief
OF police thinks that the Observers
statements are to a considerable ex.
tent eNaggerations He says there
has been q falling Off Of drunken
ness; and while occasionally there
are arrests for intoxIcation, the city
to a large extent, is quite free from
this cvll,