Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-10-26

option campaign has raised the ques-
tion of which party is 'wet" and
which is dry" Those who favor
license and regulation, with limited
number of saloons, claim that much
less liquor is sold under their plan
than is sold under the so-called "dry"
regime, and that therefore the "wet'
element is not so 'wet' as their friends
on the other side. The advocates of
license and regulation further claim
that they are making fight in the
interest of good morals, and that they
occupy higher moral position than
their ''dry opponents; that the moral
as we'll as the business interests are on
their side, and that the effect of the
anti-saloon policy practically removes
all restrictions from the liquor traffic
and throws down the bars to all who
wish to engage in the business. With
a capital of ten dollars any one can
now engage in the business without
limitation, restriction, regulation or
license, and follow it without even
renting building. by peddling their
goods in the city and country alike.
After all, what is the difference
between license and fine? A Ii
cense of $1,000 each per annum can be
collected from limited number of
saloons in Grangeville and Cottonwood
without any expense, and the saloon
keepers are therefore penalised to that
extent. Hard experience proves that
to collect an equal amount from boot
leggers in fines costs the county three
dollars for every dollar collected.
Furthermore, the ''wet'' element
claims that the bottle is far more
temptation to boys and young men
than the licensed saloon, and that
under the present "dry" system the
bottle habit is constantly increasing.
Many boy or young man who would
not go into an open saloon and call
fol- drink, will take it out of bottle
around the corner if offered to him.
The law regulating saloons passed
by the last legislature is a good law
and throws additional and important
restrictions around the saloon. Those
who favor the license system heartily
favor its strict enforcement. With
an unanimous sentiment favoring such
enforcement, conviction can be Sc
cured before a jury in every case.
The new law provides however, that
any license can be revoked by the
county commissioners when the law
is violated, and saloon may be closed
without recourse to the courts. In
fact, the whole matter Of granting
licenses is in the hands of the county
commissioners, and they can refuse to
issue any license whatever. This
was the condition in Latah county,
where all saloons were closed without
a local option election. Under exist
ing dry condition in Idaho county
we are losing revenues and have lost
all control and regulation Of the liquor
traffic. Boot-legging prevails through
out the vast expanse Of Idaho county
and its prevention is beyond the reach
Of the county officials. Under the
new liquor law enacted by the last
legislature there will be few high
class saloons contributing to the rev
enues Of the school districts, county
and the state. The screens, curtains
chairs, tables and card rooms are tt
; be abolished, and the new saloon viii
be conducted as wide open to the pub
lie sight as city cigar stand. Whicl
, do the voters prefer, regulated saloons
, or horde Of bootlegging joints ped
ding poison all over the county?