Arizona republican., 1914-12-31
The Vanishing Saloon

Tomorrow Arizona will be nominaIlv dry If
will be really when the supplies which MANY cit-
have been ndustrousIy CONSERVING of the
stocks which the prohibition amendment requires
Shall be disspated by tomorrow morning have been
consumed. We understand that a great deal of this
conservation work has been in progress, not only in
Phoenix but in all parts the state since the cleo
ton. 1t has been on more teverishly since
the circuit court of appeals refused to enjon the
enforcement of the amendment John Barevcorn
has been conspicuous figure on the bargain
counter In consequence, perhaps, the most marked
effect shall of the enforcement of the amend
ment for time will be the closed doors of the
saloons.
But 1t was another matter that we started out
to discuss The question of prohibition was widely
deeply and spiritedy considered in this state ever
since the beginning of it nearly year There
is nothing more to be said pro or con at this time
The issue has been disposed of, at least for the
present. But interested in an explanation
not entirely new by the Douglas International OF
the causes of the suppression of the liquor traffic
in this state. The International, by the way op-
posed the prohibition amendment on economic
grounds.
In its opinion, prohibition in Arizona is not an
expression by majority of the people who voted
on the question that they favor total abstinence or
even temperance. But it is rather an expression
of resentment against the manner in which some Of
the saloons, though by no means all of them were
conducted-their defiance of the laws or ordinances
which had been enacted for their regulation
The chief for the suppression of olen
gambling several years ago was dat it adj
Junct of many. in fact, of most saloons The more
la"-abdins saloons obeyed the law but many others
did not Some of them violated the spirit it.
and many the very letter of it, Likewise. they gave
no attention to the statutes and ordinances prohibit
ing the sale of liquor TO minors and ntoxca ted per-
sons.
Proprietors of more less orderly places fore
saw the menace to the liquor traffic in the
of such saloon keepers who steadily moulding
public opinion against the whole traffic In the
meantime, the average citizen who might not have
Lad very strong convictions on the subject Of tenn
perance to regard The dsorderly saloon as the
type of all saloons
Says the International: Against the saloon
practices which have brought odium on the liquor
traffic and prejudice against the business the brew
cries and distlleries of the country the whole
sale liquor dealers have warned protested in
vain for many years, but without avail"
What is true of Arizona has been true of every
state where prohibition has triumphed The dog
gerry was steadily throttling the liquor business
Whether not the manufacture and distribution of
liquor will ultimately in this country it is
reasonably certain that the saloon is vanishing never
to return Formerly, it encouraged supported
and defended by manufacturers and distributors but
for a long time there has been tendency among
them to regard it evil threatening 0 them
prohibitionists have regarded ii as menace to
society.