American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1910-10-22
NOTHING To THEIR CREDIT.

fsii,i. d.ai.ss In iiquors In Ameri-
ioan Fails that a foul murder was
not committed last night. and one
Of their victims today be facing the
most serious OF charges. The poor
Workmanship he exhibited was
an accident which lessons their of
Tense none, because knowing the
dangerous character of this man
when under the influence of liquor
they persisted. for the sake OF gain.
IN supplying him with the substance
which made of him a demon. II
In of no use for the former saloon
men of American Falls to deny their
guilt. To do SO would only lessen
the fading esteem in which they are
held, because the truth is known
TO too mgny people 10 be denied
Several months & evidence was
accumulated against these men and
one of them was placed on trial
With punishment confronting them
they c%apituiated and promised to
obey the law II prosecutions were
dropped. Their offer was accepted
in good faith and with the frail bond
of honor their only surety. they wer
turned loose TO prey upon the com
munity which befriended them. With
great caution they began. but have
become bolder until liquors are open
ly dispensed over public bars to
regular customers and in defiance of
the law.
1t is lot the fault Of these men
alone. Evidence Is too plain that
circles, from those whose sworn buty
IL is to enforce the law. They are
also abetted and encouraged by cit
liens who would warmly resent the
imputation that they are emore dan
gerous to society than the saloon
men themselves. because they lend
respectability to violation OF laa
which saloon men cannot command.
Yet they are such. and will con
tinue to be until an awakened sense
of responsibility touches their con
sciences and brings them to a reali-
cation of their part in this unholy
traffic.
People may be excused for differ
ing AS TO the moral wrong of the
traffic in Intoxicating liquors, but
there is no excuse which justifies
defiance OF public sentiment nor the
violation OF Law. anarchy differs
enly In degree. The person wiz
startles humanity by the perpetra-
ton of some attroeious crime is
worse than the offender in a lesser
way only as the o~ffense is greater.
Both spring from the same root.
the setting up of the will OF the in
dividual against the law.
This may seem harsh to some OF
the readers OF this paper. but crime
is a growth the same as morality, !
and he who violates any law is an
enemy to society just In proportion
to the degree Of his offense.
Those who patronlze. encourage
and shield the offenders against
the liquor laws OF the state are not
from responsibility for the ace
of the crazed unfortunate who at
tempted the rash deed. because
encouragement is a part OF the
behind which this
bad traffic hides. II is be
Of such acts as this ard such
anconraEefneut as made il possible.
that the liquor question is the lead
nag issue ia the campaign being
today Ii has become ueces-
iary TO determine whether the state
the liquor traffic Is snpremeand
he elements of society from the
'urely moral to The wholly immoral
rom the law-gbiding 10 The law
VIII range themselves be-
ween tho VA extremes according to |
he tgue neral plain which they 8
Feupy. water finds it's level, aud !
his is no more true than that every {
'erson fills thee r niche in which 7
e belongs. IN the scale dividing tho
saint from the depraved sin I
er. h
That The liquor traffic is an evil D
admitted by all. The response u
ility for this evil must be assumed s.
y each individual. lust in proper u
on as his Influence makes the con a
nuance OF the traffic possible. The
'sponsibility rests with the indiy- u
Iuai, and by him must be met. al
LAND BOARD MATTERS. IA