Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-01-16
The Ahsaka Dance

The Ahsaka Dance
Editor Clearwater Republican,:
As my name was brought in con-
hection with the report Of the New
Years dance at Ahsahka wish to
state my position. do not dance,
never did, but all the rest of the
family, dances, we were all there. If
any act, word or embrace not becoming
lady or gentleman, that would Of
fend decent, moral men or women came
under my observation l. would have
demonstrated on the spot, and my
family would have left at once.
Yes, there were tight skirts, but not
Jny more SO than you see ladies and
minersswear every day on the streets
by the dictation Of fashion, (Which
fashion would be disgrace to hell, and
should not be IS allowed by law,) as to
dancing approve Of it as one the best
physical exercises, giving grace and
action to the body, and rest to the
mind if.not carried to extremes or ex-
haustph, & Some. churches prohibit
dancing, among their members, but
cannot enforce It. The Catholic church
abmonishes against it but does not pro-
hibit as it cannot be enforced. Peo-
pie have a right to amusementinnocent
and pleasure. People that 60 to dances
with evil thoughts in their minds and
desire in their hearts are not ladies or
gentlemen. II any bare evidence APP
peared or was even suspected, they
would be promptly and properly elected
from any decent dance or entertain
ment. As to tight skirts, yes they
were in evidence; SO are they all day
long on the streets, by dictation OF
fashion, not from choice. , It is dis.
grace that innocent young girls are
forced by fashion to wear garments so
close fitting as to plainly expose their
whole forms to the vulgar gaze Of the
lustful. This costume should be pro-
hibited by law. Moral teaching and
training at home is the best protection
against the inroads Of evils and bad
habits. am an invetterate user OF to-
bacco, and the only one in my family
addicted. l told my boys that they
were at liberty to acquire the habit,
but At the same time to take me for an
example. A slave to filthy, useless
and expensive habit, and from choice,
not force, none Of the three young men
use tobacco in any form. l have no
use for prohibition for that is force to
Try to prevent bad habits. Force as a
rule agitates it. prefer saloon
many times over to the bootlegging
system. The saloon puts up better
liquors and helps to carry the burdens
Of the taxation Of the community, and
always has enough property to make
them amenable to the laws. Where
the bootleoger, when brought before
the bar Of justice, has not as much as
IN empty bottle to attach. II found
guilty, are feed at public expense, to
the taxpayers. It is my positive knowl-
edge that many Of the agitators are
professional tipplers and soaks, and
use the prohibition movement to boost
their business or political aspiration,
and through their hypocritical pre-
fences often succeed in getting ahead
Of men far more qualified for business
and politics. l wish It understood that
there are many sincere and honest
workers for the prohibition cause, and
these have my best respects, although
do not share their views in all re-
spects, but l do prefer the saloon to
the bootlegger always,
Yours truly,
John G. Buescher.