The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1910-01-15
SALOON
Mr.. Editor:-

In addition to such obiec-
tions as your editorial of the 18th inst,
suggests, to the editorial on this sub
iect in the Register-Tribune of recent
date; permit me to say:
L hi the entire scaeme emits the
odor of the saloon; is interpenetrated
with serious weaknesses and is
fraught with v hangers to the
true interests of u citizens. The
plan is subtle and crafty, in that it
seeks under pretense of fairness to
all parties, to AXE the vote of the
people on this I'll important subject
without any of the legal safeguards
which the law proposes. and which in
all experience is found necessary to
protect elections. The election as pro-
posed is wholly without authority of
law and calls for a STRAW Vote ION
ly. There could be no officers legally
appointed. clothed with authority to
supervise or prevent improper con
duct, which. as will readily occur to
any experienced citizen, would GER
tainly present itself: no penalties
would nllow the voting of non-resi-
dents or other n~on-voters, and the
outcome of such an effort would not
only be most unsatisfactory but would
settle nothing. Many instances of uch
undertakings and their inevitable
failures could be cited: and probably
the latest one is the election at San
Ia Fe upon tlis plan. II is said that,
when such an expression of the peo-
pies choice was sought. at that city,
thousands of dollars were expended
by the friends of the Saloons. with
unlimited flow of Booze, and the re
suit was, as ought to have been eX-
pected, that by these grossly false and
fraudulent ean the will of the peo-
pie was entirely set aside. Roswell is
far too c~lear-headed tc be caught in
any suca trap as this.
Again, the principle objection is thu
plan itself. BY this method, the ulti
mate = and purposes are entire
ly lost sight of. Indeed. the anxiety
SHOWN to remove this question from
the coming city election bears upon
It's face evidence of the desire to de
ceivc the people.
Can we hope to succeed in tais
stupendous undertaking to eliminate
and destroy this poisonous and de
structive business and drive th5
DA 80 Jul ny IL III
most carefully prepared and heroic
measures? Is il not certainly true
that to give ultimate force and effect
% such an undertaking as this, some
thing more than the mere voice of the
m tiority against the Saloon is neces
saryP VIII not the supreme necessi
~ he for MEN, quite as much a,
measures?
Suppose the voice in this proposed
election should be against the Saloon
how will force and effect be given tc
such a preference without a Council
composed of men honestly and ear
nestly devoted and pledged to such
a work? If we carry the measure by
the vote of the people without hav,
ing men of the right stamp and the
right attitude towards this question
on the Council Board. the effect must
inevitably be that the indifference
and want of interest and obligation
will result in a class of officers who
will permit Illicit traffic in this ele
ment: and the last state may there
fore be worse taan the first.
1t takes no prophet to see that il
We "a Citizens, are To succeed in this
important undertaking we must plan
to keep up the fight against the most
subtle. crafty, n INSCRIPTIONS foe
that Human Society has ever met
We must have a Council elected and
pledged to do this one thing and tc
do Il we'll. And while we need men OF
business training and experience, men
with knowledge of civic affairs WAC
are able to carry forward the City's
l hr4GfnnGc - faffhF.1 a.I -,-,la,
manner, still it remains that all 9th.
er questions and interests are small
as compared with this one great thing
the putting down and out of the Liz,
nor Traffic.
Our only safety as now appears. is
in the choice and election of men who