Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-12-31

Portland, Or, Dec. 3l.-At one minute
past IL CLOCK tonight 2l00 saloons will
go out of existence and the three big
states of the Pacific Northwest will en-.
ter the "dry" column.
Prohibition, or ar.prohibition, takes
effect in Washington, Oregon and Idaho
simultaneously, increasing the total
"dry" area in the United States by
nearly 40 per cent.
During the last month the stores of
liquor in the hands Of saloons and
wholesale houses have practically dis
appeared. Much of it was sold 10
those who needed the admonitions of big
banners in front Of every "family
liquor store" TO "stock up for the
drought"
Today many saloons in every city
throughout the northwest are dis.
mantled but nevertheless they are pre-.
pared for the biggest nights business
in history, Tables in the big cafes Of
Seattle, Portland, spokane and Tacoma
were at a premium, and preparations
were being made to uncork the last few
bottles of champagne.
Champagne is scarce article in the
northwest. Since il became known that
the three northwest states were going
dry, no champagne has been received
here and the scpply on hand is almost
exhausted The revelers tonight will
have TO be satisfied with cheaper
brand Of wine in most Of the cafes.
Fight in Two States.
Vets and drys alike point out that
neither Washington nor Oregon will
have real prohibition. The laws OF
these two states are practically the
same, and allow the shipment into the
state Of liquor in small quantities.
Tdaho's g law, on the other hand, is what
the prohibitionists call "drum tight"
The Idaho drys still have a hard
fight before them, They failed to have
prohibition written into their consttu.
ton by vote of the people. Instead, the
Legislature passed prohibition law.
The vets now have this law before the
United States supreme court on appeal,
but meanwhile the district attorneys,
sheriffs and police in every county and
city in the state are preparing to clamp
down the lid at the stroke Of twelve
tonight.
There is nothing in the laws Of Ore
gon or Washington to prevent anyone
from drinking all he wants 10, provided
he doesn't fall under the public nuis
ance section. There's nothing to pre-
vent him from keeping all the liquor
he wants in his home-if he can get 1t
There 3 nothing TO prohibit him from
carrying all the liquor he wants across
the state line for his own use. But he
can t take II on a common carrier. The
law merely limits the amount Of liquor
common carrier may carry to each in
dividual. And the laws strictly forbid
the manufacture or sale within the stat,
Of any liquor containing more than one
half Of one per cent Of alcohol.
Oregon Lid on Tight
Drys believe and public officials pro
fess 10 believe that bootlegging in Ore
gon and Washington will not be q pop
ular profession. In the first place, they
agree, the bold blind pigger will have q
hard time getting his wares into the
state without bending or breaking thu
law. He will run q tremendous rish
trying to sell 1t. And finally, they
argue, who's going TO patronize a blint
pig and run chance Of being arrested
when there's simple means provided
for getting IL legitimatelyi
Efforts Of the Washington liquor mer
to find legal hole in their prohibition
Law were watched with bated breath BY
the Oregon vets. When the supreme
court finally decided to leave tho law
alone, the Oregon liquor men also gave
up hope,
Although the prohibitionists are con
graduating themselves on havinf
knocked "King Booze fiat on hi
back, they will have 70 knock him dowr
again next November. In Washington