The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1910-10-28
THE TEMPERANCE ISSUE


make the people believe that there is tenn
perance issue in this campaign and that it is
Of paramount importance is merely for the
purpose Of misleading the voters and befog
ging the real issues Of the campaign. Both
platforms have declared in favor Of the local
option law, the democrats standing squarely
upon the present law and the republicans
being in favor Of the changing Of such law
and the submission to the people so they say
of an amendment to the constitution, giving
us state wide prohibition. The plank in the
democratic platform is as follows:
We hereby pledge the democratic party to
the continuance Of the existing local option
law with the county as the unit, and for the
strict enforcement Of the same.
The nominees in the state and county
stand squarely upon this plank. and insist
that the law should be given fair trial before
it is condemned.
Mr.. Hawley has given the people Of Idaho
his solemn assurance that he favors the con-
tinuance OF the present law and Senator
Borah, the greatest republican leader in the
state has publicly stated that as man and
citizen, Mr.. Hawley is above reproach. We
contend that the republicans are not sincere
in the advocacy Of state wide prohibition and
that they knew at the time Of the adoption Of
their platform that sufficient number Of the
| republican nominees to the state senate we're
opposed to the submission OF such consti-
| tutional amendment to defeat the same. We
contend that the only temperance issue i'll
tnue under the present law or whether we
desire to precipitate further agitation by
attempting to amend the same. IIoweser,in
spite of this straightforward and reasonable
position which the democratic party has
taken on this question the republican leaders
iterate and reiterate that any one believing in
sobrety and temperance ought not to sup
port our ticket. They do not assail the logo
Of our position but go upon the BALI assump-
ton that they are dry and we are wet"
individually and collectively, as hypocri,es
and liars. They seem to forget that but
few short months ago, men high in the
councils Of their party who are now attempt
| ing to ride into Office on the temperance
wave were either bitterly assailing the pro.
visions of this law or remaining quicsccnt
until they could ascertain which was the
popular side Of the question; they forget that
Governor Brady before temperance legisla-
ton become popular was the political pro-
| II. e A.,
ers Of the state; they neglect to explain to
the voters of this state how Governor Brady
and staff could spend SIS. so of the State
money for single dinner without including
liquors in their bill Of fare; they have not ex-
planned how these same gentlemen could
spend $442 Of the states money for less than
. three days board and lodging in the city Of
Seattle without considerable portion Of
such expenditure being for liquors; they do
not explain why J. T. Carroll who led the
wet forces in the local option fight, and
whose cellars, according to common repute
contain more high priced liquors than is
' carried by the average saloon, is now an
ardent supporter Of Governor Brady; they
~ uot Captain WHY J. i. SSott, oiS VI tiS
btterest foes of prohibition in Kootena
county, and who never lets slip an opportun.
: ity to bitterly assail the law, is now, in the
e columns Of his paper, supporting Governor
: Brady.
V In the local option fight both the Press anc
), the Journal opposed the adoption OF the
present law, and the republican commission
ers arrayed themselves upon the side of tht
{ vets and were not satisfied with simpl,
e signing themselves as individuals to mos
e positive and unequivocal series Of resolutions
h condemning the local option law in its entire
ty, but in order that their signatures nigh
have greater weight they attached to then
their official titles and endeavored TO give th
county's sanction to the sentiments embod
e led in the resolutions
And last but not least, let us examine tn
- public declarations and printed statements 9
II Ezra r. Whitla, the reputed owner Of TIL
4 Journal, which paper is now so vocferous
ID claiming that the republican party is all dry
RS and the democratic party is all wet. In
>, signed statement, he says: That to adopt