The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-11-11
IDAHO'S DRY LAW IN
EFFECT JANUARY 1

Party leaders and politicians in Idaho
are actually relieved because the DAYS
are numbered for the saloons in this
State. In less than two months it will
be the most arid spot in the entire west,
for what is said to be the most rigid
prohibition law ever passed by legis.
lature, and held constitutional by the
Supreme court, will go into effect on
and after January !. 1916. To quench
their thirst, imbibers of intoxicants are
taking the next fftyfve days in which
to pay their respects to John Barley
corn. Parched threats are few and far
between, but dark brown tastes are
many.
The relief expressed by those influ-
entail in political circles in this State
would ordinarily seem strange, because
it is over the adjustment of liquor
However, it is not so when it is realized
that ever since Idaho abandoned her
swaddling clothes of territorial days
and donned those Of statehood the sa.
loon has been a dominant factor in con-
trolling votes, and there has been con-
slant agitation against it, In the flu
ture, it is hoped party leaders will not
have to face an embarrassing liquor
issue.
Not Quite Finished
But this issue will not be entirely
eliminated at least for another year, for
the general election of voters will pass
upon the question of amending the State
constitution to Danish forever the man
ufacture of Intoxicating beverages from
SfDtn 10 hat %h.,
amendment will carry. Even the liquor
people concede that. 1t is now very
doubtful if they will attempt to make
fight against it. A majority of $1,000
is already given the amendment by
those familiar with politics in this
State. The prohibitionists, however, are
taking no chances. Already they have
taken steps to organize the State by
precincts to make certain of the pre-
dicted victory.
The saloon has seen it's last days in
Idaho. No one realizes that any better
than the brewers and saloonkeepers
themselves. And not few of them
are actually glad of it. When the
liquor interests threw up their hands
before the last legislature and gave up
the fight, it was admitted they saw the
Handwriting on the wall.
Dry Section Prospers
Although probably only pledged to
their constituents to pass the constitu-
tional amendment for submission to the
electors to ratify, the solons went two
steps farther. They passed the strin-
gent local option amendatory act, which
now applies to counties that are dry
and will apply to the State as a whole
on and after next January Then they
passed a Statewide prohibition act,
making Idaho prohibition territory on
and after that date
Were it not for the fact that Idaho is
now twothirds dry, and has been so
for the past four years, the blow the
saloons received here would be surpris
ing. As it is, it is not. Local option
has been popular in many counties
Some Of them have been dry since their
creation. This is particularly true of
the southeastern part of the State. There
is not wet county in that section. The
entire eastern tier is dry and with the
exception of Owyhee, every county
south of the Snake river in the south
ern portion is and has been prohibition
1t is the most prosperous section of
Idaho.
Rigid Enforcement
That there will be as rigid enforce
ment Of the law in the State as it is
severe, was made evident to leaders of
all parties this week by Governor Alex
ander, when he wrote to the attorney
general asking for advice as to what
his powers were in regard to law en-
forcement. 81 would like to KNOW
said the governor, in his query to the
State g legal advisor, "what power the
-.
various sheriffs and prosecuting attOr-
neys of the State in the enforcement
of this law, and if any of the county
officers should be negligent in enforc-
ing such law, let me know if the gov
ernor possesses the authority to compel
them to enforce said law' The gov
ernor signed the prohibition bill, al
though every pressure was brought on
him not to do so. He was only pledged
by his party platform for the constitu-
tiOnal amendment. But he recommend
ed in his message to the legislature,
both the amendment and a State wide
prohibition act.
Suffragists Chagrined
If there is any one thing that has
amused Idaho party leaders-yes, and
some of the ardent suffragists of the
State-the past week, it was the way
the suffrage issue suffered. Women
have been voting so long in Idaho that
suffrage is taken for granted. How
ever, during the past summer a number
of the national suffrage leaders invaded
this State intent on forcing United
States Senator Borah into line for the
proposed suffrage amendment to the
constitution. Senator Borah would not
be forced In fact, he came out openly
against the issue. What was worse,
from the eastern suffrage leaders view
point, he had the support of many of
Idaho IS suffrage leaders. The national
leaders were from Massachusetts, Penn