East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-12-28
is AGAINST SALOONS.
Pendleton. Ore. Dec. 2s, 191(

Editor East Oregonian:
At the request of your excellent
mayor, Mr. Murphy I made some in
vestgaions and arrived at some con-
clusions op-the saloon question while
on my recent visit to Iowa. Iowa has
a saloon law of her own which l could
not in this article undertake to give,
but l wish to quote from an inter-
view | had on December s last bear
ing on the saloon question with Hon.
w. w. Eaton of Panora, Iowa. Mr..
Eaton has lived in Iowa 35 years, IS
years on a farm and the past II years
in the city of Panora. During his
residence in the city he has been in
timately connected with both the bus
mess and official interests of the city;
was mayor for five years; on the
school board for nine years and con-
sidered by all who know him as an
upright, honest business man and a
clean. conscientious public servant.
Mr.. Eaton, from what source does
your city owe its existence, growth
and prosperity?
Ans-From her surrounding agri-
cultural territory.
+, Could your city exist and prosper
without the support of your surround
ing agricultural territory?
Ans-Most certainly it could not.
Could your surrounding agricultur-
al territory prosper without the aid
and support of your city?
Ans-I see no reason why it should
not.
f,,tz Iata lie
as to the merchants manner of doing
business and the city's method of tax
alton when I asked him this question:
Mr.. Eaton, suppose your merchants
ordinary tax is $500 and your city
should conclude to pave her streets
and build city hall and in this ay
double his tax. From a business
standpoint what plan would he adopt
to raise the $500 thus added?
Ans.-Add a per cent to the selling
price of his goods sufficient to cover
the amount.
There are no saloons in Panora. No
drug store permits. Doctors can use
intoxicants in their medicine and
practice but can not leave it with their
patients or give it by prescription.
Mr.. Eaton, would saloons be of any
benefit to your town?
Ans.-None whatever
Could not the city derive some ben
eft from the saloon by the mulct ar
license system?
We might If there was nothing back
of the single transaction Of the saloon
paying the money into the city treas
ury but some one must pay the mon
ey into the saloon till before the sa-
loon can put it into the city's till. If
the merchant or business man puts
money into the saloon till he must
, first get it from our agriculturalists
, for this is the only wealth producing
class we have. If it goes into the sa-
= loon till from a useless nom n-producine
class the burden of our wealth pro-
I ducing class is only increased for they
must in an indirect way feed and
, clothe the non-producer.
: Mr.. Eaton, what effect do saloons
have on the politics of your cities
Ans.-A demoralizing effect. Il
, opens up a lucrative field for CRATER!
. and men of low morals are alway!
: striving in a saloon town for officia
positions. When this class once gets
control of city machinery and Is
backed by the saloon element which
2 generally votes as a unit, taxes ge
high scandals come Some Of oul
leading citizens and ex-officals ge
1 the air they breathe in "smal
squares" The wealth producing ele
4 ment pays the bill and the city Il
v cleaned. but h9miliated, and read!
: for a new start.
Pendleton gets her only supper
|, either in a direct or an indirect wa!
J. from her surrounding agricultural
: territory. Should this source of sup
port and revenue be withdrawn from
g her not a business would be in opera
!, ton at the end of year. She nigh
have 500 saloons in the valley will
= her and still the business houses coulC
not exist, but according to the hom'
. rule law the very element that make!
: II possible for Pendleton to exis
shall have nothing to say as to wha
: kind of a town Psndleton shall be
This may work for short time, bu
: eventually Pendleton will be just th
kind of a town the wealth PRODUCING
element in her territory desire her t
be When the saloon question is mad'
a leading question in community th'
man who believes in saloons is yer!
' apt to do his trading with the mer
" 11hant who believes as he does on tina
subject The merchants manners
company and stories are congenial t'
:. him and instnctively he Is draw
" there. on the other hand the mar
who Is opposed to saloons and saloor
j., influences Is by the same reasoning
p drawn to the merchant whose ideai
: coincide with his on this question A.
a community changes on this subjec
II the personnel Of the merchants of 8
q city will change also.
We must look at Pendleton as she
Is now, not what she was twent,
, years ago. In her earlier history tn,