The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-10-28
Nj. Boyd P. Doty
Talks on Local Option

| Talks on Local Option
Boyd P. Doty, one of the princi-
pal officers and workers Of the Anti
Saloon League of this state, spoke
at Odd Fellows hall Wednesday
evening on the local option ques-
tion with especial reference to the
pending election and existing condi-
tions in the town. Owing to no mo-
tice having been given of the meet.
ing in advance of his coming his
audience was much smaller than he
should have had. Rev. S. G. Jones
presided and gave a short and very
appropriate talk before introducing
the principal speaker Of the even
! ing. Several songs were sung by
large choir.
Just as Mr.. Doty arose to speak
the electric lights went outa very
frequent and exasperating occur
renee Of late which led the speaker
to compare the imperfect light SER
vice with the conditions resulting
from the present no-license policy of
the town. He expressed the opinion
that no patron of the light company,
or other resident of the town, would
seriously advocate the adjustment
of the service, imperfect though it
is and return to the use of coal oil
light, and he thought that no one
with any regard for improvement in
moral and social conditions would
favor the return of saloons here with
all Of their attendant iniquitous in
f1uences, simply because liquor IS
still sold to some extent in defiance
of the law and public opinion. and
by the same men who were once IL
censed to sell it legally and who
would expect to enjoy that privilege
again if this community were to
"backslide" and return to the for
mer license policy, thus deliberately
| inviting its 'pernicious consequences
and blighting effects. Quoting in
substance a statement often made,
i by temperance people he said that.
"the wettest dry town is far better
In every way than the driest wet
town there ever was. !"
The speaker then spoke earnestly
and interestingly Of the tremendous
progress which the temperance
cause has made during the past few
years and is now making under local
option and prohibitory laws. OF
the approximately ninety millions of
people in the United States, he said,
forty-one millions are living in ter
ritory that has been made dry" by
the votes of the people and this dry
territory comprises nearly three
fourths Of the country's entire area.
And still the good work goes on.
Upon the sordid financial side Of the
question he gave many instances
showing that legitimate business in
all branches has greatly benefited
and bank deposits vastly increased
in communities which have voted
saloons out and kept them out and
he challenged any one to produce
any merchant here who will say that
his trade has suffered in consequence
of the closing of the saloons. Upon
the subject of non-enforcement of
the law he emphasized the fact that
the chief, if not the only, violators
Of the law have been the former
saloon keepers themselves who have
Haunted their disregard Of law and
public opinion in the eyes Of the COM
munity which overwhelmingly re-
corded its decision against them FIVE
months ago. And yet in spite Of
"boot logging" and blind pigs
| (which are not blind) he said the
consumption of Intoxicating liquors
here now is infinitesimal as COM
pared with the consumption under
the license policy and moral and le-
gitimate business conditions are i'm
measurably better, and lie said that
when the county as whole outside
of Friday Harbor, goes dry as it un-
doubtedly will, officers will have the
great power Of the state and public
opinion back Of them u close blind
pigs and effectively prosecute those
who disregard the law In closing
he made an earnest appeal to the
voters to reafirm the splendid YER
dict of five months ago. for morality
and decency. and BY an increased
majority.
Attorney r. E. Morris returned
home on Saturday from Boise. lda-
ho, where Be went On business con-
lnected with the Belgian horse czee.
the Idaho National Bank VI The
San Juan Belgian Horse Co.
Mr. ana Nh. Henry Hana1l - !