Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-07-16

living. but had Deen SIN anu
hadn't paid her bill. ] eliminated
her ten dollar debt. and said, men
you mean to say that you have lost
s117O BY fifty-four different people
every one Of whom was patronlLihs
the saloon. paying spot cash. getting
nothing for their family or OF Value
TO themselves. and yet you think thaI
they help your business AND ne
saw the point.
Col. Hofer has asked me some
questions. first: IF Prohibition Is
true theory Of government why mas
the German Empire become the most
powerful nation of Europe?
Not because OF its drinking habits
but in spite Of them. Besides the
Emperor has become so alarmed that
he has become a total abstainer ana
recommends that course TO his army
and all citizens. He has appointed a
commission to look into the evils OF
the alcoholic habits OF his people ana
reprt a remedy. He is alarmed tor
the future Of the Empire because OF
the people's slavery to beer. But /
am sure the Colonel would not hold
IN the German Beer Garden as
DaraUel to the American saloon.
There the German workman takes
his whole family: they sit under the
trees. and spread out the frugal meal
and order. beer or light wine 10 drink
with it Here the drinker leaves his
family. repairs to a saloon. associates
with riff-raff. drinks on an empty
stomach: and. stimulated by the
company calls for more; then IS
treated and now must treat others,
and having taken four drinks IN
stead Of one is drunk. II the Beer
Garden is bad enough 10 alarm the
Emperor. what about the American
saloon with its accompanying evils.
Besides the Beer Garden does not
run politics. write the laws and
name the Officers OF the German
Empire; but the saloon attempts all
that here.
IF drink causes poverty. why IS
Belgium without a pauper. though
she consumes more beer per capita
than any other narion2'
Belgium is a great way from here.
No one here will testify that she mas
no pauDers. But IL that were true II
would not show that the American
saloon is not the short cut 10 pow
er-v here. In the financial panic Of
1894 when $4,000 people were in
dire distress in Boston. Edward
Everett Hale offered 10 take care Of
every family in Boston that did not
drink. If the other churches would
lock after the needs Of the drinkers
families. His church had very li-.la
to DO. Not one family was found in
need that did not patroniLe the
saloons.
IF you PrOhibitioris-s were sin
Cere in getting up the local option
law and recommending it's adoption,
how do you explain your consistency
in repudiatirg il now and advocating
Prohibition
Local option was learning the
alphabet: 1t is not inconsistent TO go
on and learn TO read.
Under this system in our state the
sale OF liquor has been prohibited in
every precinct or county where g ma
i0rity voted against ii. Ii permits
local prohibition. limited in extent.
also in quality. since it does not af-
feet the manufacture. nor can IL
prevent the delivery OF liquors. even
where the sale is forbidden. In
spite of these limitations 10 has
worked a great amount Of good. IL
has demonstrated beyond question
that saloons are not necessary 10
prosperity and that their absence re-
Guces rather than increases taxes
BUT the situation has changed
since local option was instituted.
-s-.F
Cd because all the state was wet and
local option would enable them 20
make some Of ID dry. Now the liquor
men want i- because they see the
whole state GbCu. 10 go dry. and local
option will enable them 10 keep some
of i5 wet
With the individual act Of drink
ing. legislation has nothing 10 do.
This is 8 matter which each man has
a right TO regulate for himself The
act OF selling. Involving as il does
the relation Of two or more persons.
may properly be regulated or re-
s1FicGsd in any way that may seem
beneficial 10 the public. even TO the
extent OF f0rbiddiug il entirely.
This principle has been repeatedly
set forth By the United States Su-
pre-s Court All liquor legislation
Is based upon g. The right 10
license or restrict carries with ir the
right to prohibit
To show how completely the
license restriction has failed il is
only necessary 10 reflect that all we
-uw know OF the evils Of the saloon
has been learned under that system
LGe most that can he said for the
saloon Ls that % caters 10 the pleas
urs ct its patrons Is IL wise 10 pay
sEch a price for Q mere pleasures
Ieers is no middle ground for the
-Lte1ss system TO stand or Either
the saloon is a good thing and ought
20 De treated Ike anF other busi-
ness. Or. il Is q had thing and ought
TO be pus out Of business
Many q the difficulties which in
-artare with the enforcement OF
precinct and county prohibition IN
der local option lsW. OF with the
sAlo1l restriction under the license
laws VIII disappear under State Pro-
11ol-1c1- No crime is more difficult
10 1s1ecr than the Illegal sale OF
-igUrr where the legal sale exists
Booze bought In q blind pig pro-
1uces sXactlY the same effects As
lhar purchased in the licensed saloon
NO crime O. easier 10 detect than the
Illegal sale Cf hQuCr. where there is
-o -sgIl sale sight smell and hear