Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-03-17
THE LOCAL OPTION LAW A
FARCE.

q nave now uhu hliuOSO wv
years OF the local option law.
The test of the measure ha
been thorough in Morrow county
Almost daily demonstrations of th'
farce of the law are thrust upoI
MS. The most earnest and enthu
siastic advocates of prohibition are
compelled TO admit that the work
ings of the law have been far from
the results desired.
There has been absolutely nc
decrease in drunkenness. Men
who " ere prone to intoxication be-
fore the law went into effect have
continued to do the same way.
Instead of stepping in and getting
drink at a time under the old
way they now get bottle or a
Jug or barrel and with their
friends drink deeply and often.
But the worst of all is the fact
that intoxicating liquors can now
be obtained more easily by little
boys and minors. How they get
it we don't know, but the facts
oanDot be denied.
The local option law has pro-
duced a peculiar condition. 1t has
not removed a sing e influence that
was desired, but on the other hand
it places a premium on crime and
causes a loss of respect for obey
anca of the law which is a serious
shock to good citizenship.
Nothing has been left undone by
Morrow county officers to enforce
the law. Morrow county's sheriff
was elected on local option plat
form. Surrounded by assistants
in harmony with his policies, the
local option campaign has been
pushed to the limit.
High priced detectives have been
employed who have lived fat on
princely salaries. Expert chemists
have been brought here from Cor
Wallis. An army of witnesses has
been summoned from time to time,
and Morrow county's tax payers
have bowed their backs in reach
ing deeply into their pockets to
replenish the public treasury which
has been depleted to pay for the
efforts to enforce the To-
sal option law.
And now Mr.. Shut comes out
over his own signature in the
Times of last week and publicly
admits that he is absolutely help
less to enforce the local option law.
Mr.. Shut says abolish the Pas
times, but admits that he can't do
it. The Pastimes cannot be abol-
ished for the reason that our con-
stitution guarantees equal rights
in the transaction of business and
everything else.
Mr.. Shut blames individuals.
Individuals are not to blame. The
local option law has forced the
same condition in Heppner that
prevails in every other local option
town in the country.
The city council has wisely
granted licenses to the Pastimes.
If it were possible to abolish the
Pastfmes, conditions would be
worse. This would force the man
who wants to drink to import"
instead of near beer. The
booze is not so bulky, easier to
handle and generally preferred.
The local option law is knocking
The bottom out OF the smaller
towns of the country. Compare
dry conditions with the conditions
IN the same towns when they were /
wet, and when doing this don't for
get to compare your tax receipts
With the receipts prior to the en-
Of the local option law.
All of the bigger towns are de-
eating the local option law and in
absorbing the business
# the dry towns.
Look at Pendleton, look at our
wn town. Pick out any of the
Try towns that you like and you
ave only the shadows Of former
prosperity. Ask as TO the
ooral conditions. Have they i'm
Iroyed any where?