Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-12-31
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the reform desired by the people Is
an established fact. Just at present
its big guns are trained on the forces
fighting for the complete abolition or
the liquor traffic. Later 1t Will be
saving, "We killed him, didn't we,
Betty?" Here is an opinion from a
recent editorial.
Referring to those who favor and
work for prohibition it says:
"These persons care nothing about
the question on its economic or busi-
ness side. Taxation or revenue or
industry or business is nothing to
them. They live by their wits, as
apostles of agitation and of theo-
retica reforms.
"In country precincts and quiet
villages there is little or no demand
for liquors, and prohibition often is
practicable in such places, and even
desirable. The method known as
local option supplies way for limit
alton of open or active sale. But in
large cities and principal towns it is
not practicable at all; for public
sentiment will not support the eff
fort"
We are ready to concede all that
Is said about the difficulty of en-
forcing the law in the large cities;
and there is a good reason. The
famous English writer, James
Bryce, now ambassador to the United
States, says in his American Com
monwealth," There is no use deny
ing that the government of the cities
Is the one conspicuous failure IN the
United States" To this Andrew ID.
White, who has had exceptional OPP
portunities to study conditions In the
cities of the world, adds: Without
the slightest exaggeration we may
assert that, with few exceptions, the
city governments of the United
States are the worst in Christendom
the most expensive, the most in
efficient, and the most corrupt"
The reason for this is obvious.
To the cities resort the worst ele-
ments that curse humanity. Our
American cities have their large
"tenderloin districts" where con-
gregate thieves, gamblers, prosti-
tutes, and thugs and outlaws of all
classes. "To the city human wreck
age floats and there serves to wreck
other lives; it is in the city where
saloons and gambling hels and
brothels abound, and it is. there
where such forces of evil increase
their strength by organization; it is
/ there that criminals resort, and
crimes multiply" Our cities are
ruled by bosses: and the boss makes
the saloon the base of his activities.
Without the saloon Tammany and
kindred evils could not exist.
! Ex-President Roosevelt said.
/ speaking on "Menaces Of Civlliza-
tion," I'm any attempt to reform
them by law, would we not find nine
tenths of the city members of the
legislature hostile? The only hope
of reform lies in the action of the
country members. The average
grade of our city politicians is a seri-
Gus menace to good government"
James Bryce, Andrew White and
Theodore Roosevelt would be ac-
cused of using language of fanatic
ism, but the seriousness of the situa-
tion Is recognized by these master
minds. They belong to a class who
have no opinion or principles In
the market to be knocked down to
the highest bidder.
The railroad companies do not
hold with the Oregonian in the fol-
lowing.
The so-called license systematic
system of tax and regulations not
a failure, as these shallow people
assert. 1t accomplishes, in the main.
the purposes intended. II holds the
business under police control, gives
comparative peace to communities
where prohibition would bring hate
ful war (for this always is It's re-
suit, supplies large revenue to
states, municipalities and the nation
al government, and supports indus
try and business in many various
lines All persons of practical judg-
ment know these things-though
there is a narrow fanaticism that
never will acknowledge them"
They absolutely prohibit the use
of liquors by their employees because
OF the danger to life and property
Then are we fanatics Il we apply 1,