Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-01-05
Editor Herald:

4-uItOE herald.
The undersigned committee was APP
pointed by the South Aberdeen i'm
provement club to represent the peti-
TONERS against granting or renewing
any saloon license in South Aberdeen.
l his committee wishes to make the
following statement which gives the
true situation.
This movement is not against any
individual or for any malicious pur-
pose. 1t is simply asking for the
disbarment of all saloons from this
district because it is a resident dis
trict and because it is for the best
interests of the people.
The committee circulating this pc
ton purposely avoided calling on non
representative people and it is there
fore fair and impartial. This petit
ton was presented TO the council
with one hundred and siXty-six sign
ers.
There has also been presented to
the council a petition in favor of re
neWing the license of the present sa-
loon on which there is said to be
four hundred and twenty signers. An
examination of this document, the
size OF which makes it Ridiculous
discloses the fact that it is padded
with the names OF men who are not
even residents OF South Aberdeen
of foreigners who have neither votes.
property holdings or citizen papers.
Of minors and transients. Such
document, whether made so intention
ally or not, is confusing. unfair and
mis- represents the true situation
There are certain laws and restric-
tons defining the rights and priyi-
leges OF American citizens and legal
voters, the maintenance of which are
absolutely necessary for the safety
of the government and the protection
OF property. The spirit of these laws
should be abided by in the matter
of petitions as we'll as elections and
any attack upon them should be con-
demned.
The first ward is Represented upon
the city council by two councillors
who should be better informed upon
the conditions and wishes of the rep
rsentative people in this ward than
anyone else. These gentlemen have
been given the opportunity to can
vas the situation and have stated
on the floor of the council that the
sents the wishes of the people who
have the right to say.
a careful and impartial check of
copies of the two petitions by this
committee in the presence of the two
first ward councilmen gave the fol-
lowing results. At the time that il
was taken this check was not made
for publication but for the informa-
nf ba -l,A
exactly what the situation was. 1t
is as neary correct as it is possible
to get and perfectly fair.
The petition against the saloon
showed 121 voters of legal age and
time of residence 26 property owners
who are not voters, residents with
neither vote nor property, 3 names
which are on both petitions and
doubtful
The petition for the saloon, show
ed PIG foreigners who are mostly
Austrians, As voters of legal age and
time of residence, u property own
erS without votes, 20 residents with
neither votes nor property, 8 minors,
names which are on both papers,
non-residents with neither vote nor
property, l nonresident property own
el anu 20 III uOuDI. 1 MS accounts
for 343 names. The remainder of
the names claimed We're evidently
those of foreigners and We're so poor
~ written and unintelligble that it
was impossible to read or copy them.
These petitions We believe are pub
lie documents and open to the in
spection of anyone who may wish to
verify the above statements. This
committee asks for only o fair and
impartial verdict on this question and
that the wishes Of the representative
people be respected.
II b. STRONG,
Z. JOHNS HANSON,
L. y. HAWKINS.
JOSEPH SOUTHARD,
II. A. LIFFITON.
Aberdeen, Jan. 8, 1911.