The Alaska daily empire., 1915-05-05
DISPATCH IS
 IGNORING ISSUE

*
 Juneau May 4.-To the Editor The public no doubt, generally agree. with che Dispatch in its statement oi this morning that the "wot and dry matter as before the people, is one to be fought out in the open that ii concerns the material, moral and in dustrial welfare of every resident of Juneau and the other towns of the division; and should be dealt with in a iairminded and honest way
 Many. however will differ with the Dispatch in some of the other state ments of the same article
 The Empire of last night called at. tention to the fairness of the judge to the liquor dealers in the Sitka situa- tion or year ago, allowing them a recanvass of those not voting The Dispatch ignored this entirely, it would have stolen the most of its thunder and made long argument in effect that minority might deter mine the issue.
 While the Dispatch grants the peo- pie the right to vote the saloons out of business AT ANY TIME 1t does not think they have a right to vote them out without giving them time It looks rather strange. when a year ago. Che saloons at sitlsa were put out of business with a thirty day notice. that so conscientious a sheet did not champion this oppressed cause. but should now come out 80 committodly It would seem Go indicate thai it. too might have a very substantial anchor to windward determining its attitude at this time.
 Nor will everyone grant that.a re- iusal Co license would be sudden at this time Every year for three years now Che number of those opposed to the saloon has practically doubled Ey cry one who could reason or who had his ear to the ground must have known that it was due this year to be a majority. There is no surprise !n this. The only surprise is that for the first time in Che history of Alaska everyone should be given an oppor- uuity to express his will without the chance of pressure being brought to bear to determine the way he voted
 If the will of the people in a dem )cratc government is not right what Ks? The Dispatch does not seem wil- ing that either the people or the iu- | liciary deal with this matter It grants he nfairness of the old system. com plains about the new but offers nc .emedy
 We agree with the Dispatch in it's Philadelphia lawyer comment The Philadelphia lawyer. as .proverbally . .sed, is cunning manipulator of the aw And this ruling of the judge is o simple and manifestly fair to the eople that he probably would scratch II imself bald in his effort Go get around ! Without doubt going dry" would uri the business of a considerable umber of people It would hurt the usiness Of the saloon lt would hurt he business of the municipal and fed- raj jail. It would effect the practice a both lawyers and doctors. It would [ urt the business of the Catholic hos ital. The latter only needs any com lent The public is sufficiently fa- liliar with its government to know lat it is not at all ambitious for this lost offensive and least remuneratiye k ltronage. lt accepts it because 1t is public servant
 Without doubt prohibition would sneGt the restaurant business, the 'y goods and grocery business. the E mber and hardware business, the E ai estate and banking business. La 2 )ring men and women generally are E. aking up to the fact that for long me they have been the goat
 All of this is considering the matter om purely materialistic point of ew, and does not consider morals 'alth happiness or the welfare of our ldren
 JOHN B. STEVENS.
 ATTENTION ELKs