The Alaska daily empire., 1914-11-06
SALOON MEN AND PROHIBITION.

THE men in the liquor business in Washington State may well
 take great deal the responsibility to theIseVeS TOT tue
 action of the people of the State in placing prohibition law upon their statute books The point of this statement may be best explained by relating incident that occurred ID "s ngton few years ago.
 At the time the agitation began Washington for the orcemen of Sunday closing law prosecuting attorney o the important counties of Washington was lmporuned by advocates enforcement beg prosecutions against the saloons that remaining open Sundays of the other prosecuting attorneys had done Instead of causing ar rests holders of liquor licenses in his county to appear at his office Among those who responded of the largest the Pacific coasa who had ccu muaed fortune ashe manufacturer of popular brand of beer The prosecuting attorney read the statutes governing saloons in Washington which provided for closing Sundays things He informed the saloon men that they had been violating many the statutes but said that in this while technically they committing crime, they not more guilty than the public the that the violations had been tolerated at least and many encouraged However he said there demand for law enforcement and the law must enforced My suggestion to that you begin from today observe the law If will do that there will be no arrests you do there must be action by my office
 The brewer was the first to speak He said something like this:
 he saloon this county should appreciate what the prosecuting attorney done It up you to follow his suggestions danger saloon this country prohibition and the prospect of losing the few sheces being by petty violations of the law. If prohibition comes it will be large measure your fault You prone unite for the purpose of selecting officials in police departments as shes mayors other places with
 
 the saloon other words you have sought to elect men for office who would permit violate the law you would observe the SceSt letter of the law 1t would make no difference the world who chief of police mayor sheriff. prosecuting attorney Governor anything else No one would have anything you you obeyed all of the laws You would agents You could act the part of citizens your conscience and Judgment dictated You would not have with anybody Then would hear less about the saloon influence politics and social matters Saloon men would make up their public questions as independent y as those in occupations There would be no saloon vote because individual acted citizen and not as saloon man there would be the divisions among you as there are among those engaged in other lines You would retain your erespec regarded better citizens and ii ever you had the question prohibition face would have men in all the walks of life to aid you.
 The story tells it all.
 In too many eases in the State of Washington reforms such the regulation of the railroads the adop on of the initiative and referendum and other things have been adopted only after the people have defeated the pot cal machines the saloon influence Many people who not absaners and opposed to the temperate liquor voted prohibition Washington last Tuesday for the purpose smashing what they regarded the perncous saloon influence" in public affairs.