The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-06-17
LOCAL OPTION, WHAT IS 1T?

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ship developes, we hear much talk of
this man or that man or the other
man being in favor of local option.
In fact, we do not recall having seen
a statement by any prominent person
to the effect that he was against local
option. Even the liquor men-the
saloon keepers, if you please,-talk
as though they were in favor of local
option. This suggests, what is local
option?
Local option is a system under
which any question like that of the
sale of intoxicating liquors may be
submitted to the vote of the people.
The local option law, as it is COM
monty designated, the act commonly
referred to when we speak of local
option, is one under which the ques-
ton of the sale of intoxicating bever-
ages can be submitted to the vote of
the people of a county. Those who
desire to suppress such sale vote in
favor of such change, while those de-
string to have the sale continued vote
against the change.
Local option is therefore simply
an opportunity for the people to ex-
press their option. The local as
pect of it is the provision which pro-
vides that people may vote by coun-
ties on this question of the liquor
traffic. There is no construction of
the law under which a person favor
ing local option is necessarily to be
classed as one favoring prohibition I'M
der local option. Where we have
counties that permit the sale of liqu-
ors under the law. the local optionist
is generally regarded as one who
favors suppression of such sale, but,
in those counties that have already
gone dry, the prohibition local option
list would vote against making a
change, while the liquor local OPP
tionists would vote for return to the
old system.
1t is thus made plain that any,
one may be in favor of local option.
Anyone may declare himself in favor
of local option without thereby indi-
eating in any manner that he is OPP
posed to the sale of liquor That is
the reason that SO many men known
to be opposed to prohibition are pro-
claiming themselves friends of local
option.
That is the reason why the liquor
men themselves are telling us that
they are in favor of local option.
Every enemy of temperance in the
state of Idaho is in favor of local
option today. They are putting them
selves on record in this manner in
order to blind and mislead the friends
of temperance-those who believe in
the suppression of this awful traf-
fic. They wish to create false sense
OF security in the minds of those who
are determined that this traffic shall
be eradicated. They wish to bring
about the nomination and election of
men to public positions who are not
sound on the temperance question.
men are claiming to be in favor of
local option today, who, as a matter
OF fact, were opposed to it before the
legislature, and who are always OPP
posed to bringing about prohibition
under local option.
There is quite difference between
the people who are local optionists
in this campaign Governor Brady
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He has been in favor of voting in
favor of prohibition under local OPP
ton. He has done everything he could
to induce people in the various coun-
ties to adopt prohibition under local
option. He is willing to do every
thing that lies in his power to en-
force the law against the sale of
liquor under local option. He has
contributed toward campaign funds
for prohibition under local option. He
has been diligent at all times and
at all places in promoting the cause
of prohibition under local option. He
is in favor of closing every saloon in
this state under local option or in
any other way.
Governor Brady is candidate for
reelection and everyone knows his
record in the future will be as it
has been in the past. Moreover. If
the people will give him sufficient
power and authority he will see, If he
be reelected governor, that prohi-
bition is enforced in every county by
which 1t may have been or may here
after be adopted.