The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1911-08-18
MOSS STATES HIS
VIEWS ON ISSUE
PIONEER CANYON COUNTY CITI.
zen GIVES VIEWS ON THE
LIQUOR QUESTION.

Payette Banker, Merchant, Fruit
Grower and Highly Respected Citi.
zen Is Authority for Statement
that Dry Conditions Have Not I'm.
proved Conditions.
Hon. A. B. Moss, head of the Moss
Mercantile company of Payette, was
In Pocatello yesterday, attending to
some business. Mr.. Moss has been
resident of Idaho for more than
80 years. He has been prominent
In politics, having been a member
OF the state constitutional conven-
ton in 1890. and candidate of the
republican party for governor in
the campaign of 1898. His identity
with the state, from it's business,
political and social aspects, sur
rounds his views on public questions
with extraordinary substantially.
Speaking of the application Of To-
cal option to Canyon county, Mr..
Moss said:
Il have been away from the coun-
ty for most Of the past month. Dur
ing my intermittent visits to my
home, l find smart campaign with
both drys and vets fully organized
and active. The man who conduct
ed the wet campaign for the Salt
Lake people is in charge with head
quarters at Caldwell, the county
seat. The drys are already making
speaking itineraries. Everything
points to a harmonious, clean cam
paign, free from bitterness or slush.
II am of the opinion that local
option has injured the business in
terests of Payette, my home town.
I would not oppose its further ap-
plication on this ground, if it had
in fact brought about a better moral
condition, claimed by its advocates.
If we had in Canyon county expert
enced a higher degree of temperance
among the people generally, it
would be unfair to object from the
angle of business. This has not been
the case. There has been seemingly
as much drinking as with the open
saloon, and it had been done in a
quiet, secret way, beyond the easy
reach or control of the officers of
the law. 1t Is easy for anyone to
walk over to the depot and see Ore
gon whiskey in one, two and three
gallon packages. come consigned to
our own people. This money goes
out of Payette and Idaho, and the
officers are unable to locate the
drinking places, which shift from
time to time and from place to place
for the purpose of maintaining sur
veillance over those who, in harmony |
with federal law, indulge their appe- |
tites more than they should for the
peace and safety of our citizns.
81 do not wish to say that l favor
a rought and ready issuance Of a
saloon license to any or all appli-
cants In this respect the agitation
of this question In Idaho has been
of its lesson. l contend |
that a better order of affairs would |
exist, and added justice to our mu-
nicipal affairs. with limited num-
Der of licensed, regulated saloons
than under a system by which our
own people spend their money away
from their town, county and state,
for that which they will have any
way.
ut is but FIVE miles from Payette
to Ontario, Oregon, wet town.
There are seven bars In Ontario,
and they pay a total license of 500
per month, or $S,400 annually.
Many of our laboring men, when
they receive their pay, go to Ontar-
10 or to Boise. where they can pur-
chase what they want to drink, and
while there. spend money for the
as we'll as the luxuries
of life. The business men thereby
lose that portion of trade which the
licensed. restricted saloon would hold
at home The Moss Mercantile COM
pany experienced a reduction in the
scope of its last years business in
the total sum of $1,000. l have no
doubt that the other business men
Of Payette could relate a similar ex-
Fisher, the secretary of the interior,
when he visits Boise Sept. 8. He
urged TINT thnra ha cn-nnnrafinn In