The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-02-05
THE ISLANDER AND LOCAL OPTION

A good friend of the Islander. Al
earnest. Christian man. whose I'D
f1uence is ever exerted in behalf o
the highest moral standards IN public
and priyate life. seems a little dlsap
pointed with the editorial in las
weeks issue under the heading "Mr
Bugge and Local Option" He say'
in personal letter:"I am sorry you
hint in the Islander that the Anti
Saloon league bill may be unfair.
suppose you have read the leagues
answer to that charge, yet canno
refrain fom repeating tito deal with
the saloons impartially would b'
placing them on level with TIT
homes-a position they don't deserve
Again. WET town hurts the sur
rounding country, but DRY tow
does not.
eff there is any merit 10 speclaliza
ton the league should know the prop
The islander stated last week. re
ferring to the league bill. that in its
opinion"the only just ground for crit
icism of the bill is contained in the
provision that in the event count
goes "wet' any precinct in the coun
ty may hold separate election aDC
90 "dry," while in the event that
county as whole goes "dry" no pre-
cinct can hold separate election and
go "wet," if majority of the people
so desire. 1t is an old saying pretty
generally accepted as true that sit
is poor rule that won't work both
waye."
1t is to this comment. apparently.
that our friendly critic takes excep
ton. He is right in assuming that
the editor had read the "league's an
swer to tina: charge" It did not ap
peal to him with sufficient force. how.
ever, to convince him that "to deal
with the saloons lmpartlally would
be placing them on level with TIT
homes" From the Islanders point
of view any business that is recogniz.
ed by the United States government
and by most state governments al
legal. and which. in fact. pays quite
large percentage of the cost Of gov.
eminent. through internal revenue
taxes and licenses, is entitled to fail
treatment. whatever may be the views
of individuals as to the m raj or i'm
moral influence of such business Such
treatment. as we look at the matter,
does not in any sense mean placing
the saloons "on level with the
homes" position which most sa
loon men themselves would doubtless
copcede they "don't deserve. 1t Ii
simply the recognition of the princi
pie of 'tair deal" which ought tc
underlie all legislative enactments
as we'll as individual actions.
There is of course" merit in special
ization" and it may perhaps be con
coded that the Anti-Saloon League
"SHOULD know the proper remedy
for uur saloon disease Most of us,
it may also be suggested. should know
many things we don't know. The Is
lander confesses to having more sym
pathy with the great object sought tt
be attained by the Anti-Saloon League
than it has respect for the AFRO
CANT and dictatorial methods which
have characterized its management ir
this state.
This paper has for many years been
an earnest advocate of local option
high license and stringent regulation
of the liquor traffic. 1t would be glac
tc see tie league bill, providing fol
the county unit, become law, bnt i
does not feel like branding good clti
zens as "wets" and "saloon sympa
thizers" simply because they are in
clIned to favor less stringent meas
ure. The main point is to give every
elector chance to vote upon th,
question directly, whether he lives in
an incorporated town or not.