The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-03-09
HOW SAN JUAN CO.
TOOK LEAD IN
PROHIBI
First County in New Mexico
to Vote Absolutely DRY"
Under Act Of Last Legis-
lature.

Pennington, March b.--l4nsi sat
urdny san Juan county by It's vote
of a7s to l26 Ia favor OF prohibition
jumped into prominence us the first
county In the state OF New Mexico
60 go dry under the new law en-
acted by the last session of the state
legislature. While ponH Ana count
went prohibition In its recent cleo
ton. the municipality OF Las Cruces
went the other was by tho slight ma
iorijy Of 15. In San Juan county.
however. both OF the municipalities
voted the saloon out. Pennington lead
ing and Aztec following SUIT soon at
terWard
san Juan county has had an inter-
csting experience with the liquor
question which has caused no end OF
agitation. d%issension and strife. The
people Of this section have much TO
be thankful for now that the matter
has been settled definitely and lawful
ly for -four years to come.
Looking back oyer the history OF
the county we find that the Mexican
town of Largo had a saloon FOR a
number OF years. which was discon-
tinucd. as patronage was not suih-
Client 10 warrant It's continuance
about four years ago. Blnnco. in
the same part Of the county, sup
ported a saloon which was operated
until three years ncn IT, too
closed H. doors.
Down al Fruitland an attempt was
made TO maintain "A saloon which met
with absolute failure, vs. a trial OF
nearly two years proved. On n oc-
casion some boys brought down a
load OF beer at one of the Mormon
festivals, and for their pains had the
stun taken away from them and de-
stroyed.
In the palmy days of san Juan's
pioneer period. when Bloomfield was
the metropolis OF the county, NJ hat
time having the only newspaper In
tin part Of the state. several saloons
aourished, but with the decay OF the
own the salonos disappeared.
Even La Plata once had a cross
roads grocery store which for "a time
Stacked the thirst of the so-inclined,
but this has long since censed To be
Aztec. the county seat. "A a sa-
loon. or two Tor "a number OF years.
but public sentiment grew against the
institution until the town board re-
fused 20 grant licenses which put an
end 10 the business IN that city. De-
cember Of last year. however. an
election was held under the new law
and boy "a vote OF "a TO 4 Overwhelm-
ingly declared against the establish
mcnt OF saloons In Aztec.
In Pennington d cause OF the
temperance people has been met with
strong opposition which nj times has
threatened TO end In "a victory for the
liquor advocates: and for this reason
the battles have often grown very Bit
ter.
FarminRt0n's saloons have had an
odium attached TO them that has
caused their opponents To fight with
sheer desperation, sometimes blindly.
sometimes with an ardor that has
bordered on the fanaticai. but always
with a fury born OF conviction. II was
In "a saloon hat "A killing occurred
IN this city years ago. and while not
directly the outcome OF the saloon,
IL at least attached a feeling of repul-
sion for such places. Later on an
attempt was made by W. women of
questionable pursuits to make head
quarters Ia town. In some manner
this was connected with the saloon,
the result being that a vigilance com
mittee was formed by citizens and
the Objectionable feminines were
escorted from the peaceful precincts
Of the town About five years ago a
camp OF coNboys located here made
their headquarters at the saloon ana
nightly became intoxicated and caused
no end Of disturbance 10 the towns
people. And the sentiment gradual
ly grew against the tolerance OF the
saloon and .ts attendant eyllas
Among the Objectionable features
may be named that liquor was sold
TO minors. either directly or Indirect
~. gambling in various forms was
carried on; the nuisance caused hy
the saloon hangeIs-on who made the
front 81 tho salon their lodging place
ana their place Of industry; the fact
that The public dances grew into dis
repute from the boys who spent their
intermissions az the bar and thought
nothing ui appearing on the floor in
t~oxicnted. the f%requenco OF DRINKS
which were annoying and az times
dangerous. and the further fact that
most OF the salons were az some time
or other conducted iu an indecent and
law defying manner.
out OF this flew the spark that
aroused public sentiment 90 the pitch
that resulted IN "a mass meeting az
which was passed a resolution asking
the town board 10 rofus Go grant
license. To this request was given
the answer that the town could ~
anord 10 lose the revenue so the Citi-
zens guaranteed the $500 themselves.
This marked the passing Of the sa-
loon from Pennington.
The next year the saloon was made
the iesuc az the own boa u election,
ana the dry board Was swept into
power pledged not 10 grant license
to saloons.
A. the mex board election another
ISSUE otershudowed the iiuuor ques-
ton so The hoard that was elected
stood upon the platform that was
pledged 90 call an unofficial election
49, a.