The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1915-12-18
LAW is SUSTAINED

was upheld unanimously in a de-
cision rendered last week by
the eight judges Of the state su-
preme court before whom the
case was argued. The effect of
the decision also is to uphold for
all time the validity of the initi-
ative and referendum amend
ments to the constitution, and to
forestall objections, on the ground
of insufficient publication, against
the woman suffrage and recall
amendments.
The reasoning of the majority
of the court is that since admitted
technical irregularities in the
| publication both of the initiative
and referendum amendment and
the prohibition measure do not
appear in any official record and
are not matter of general notori-
ETY., the court can not take judi
cial notice of these errors. The
Webb-Kenyon act of congress, by
divesting liquor Of it's interstate
character, prevents raising the
question of interference with in
terstate commerce, and privileges
granted to pharmacists to sell
liquor and denied to others,
amount only to a classification of
businesses, and not to such a dis
elimination between persons as to
invalidate the act, the court fur
ther holds.
Governor Lister, who was pres
ent when the decision was handed
down, issued statement calling
upon good citizens of the state,
regardless of their personal opin-
ions, to assist in seeing that the
law is upheld in its enforcement.
On technical basis, it was
agreed by most Of the lawyers of
the state that the law could be
thrown out. But, as pointed out
in the Examiner some months ago,
the expression of the wish of the
people of this state was made so
| plain at the election that their de-
cision should govern, and this was
evidently the opinion of the su-
preme court.
The value of the new law will
depend entirely upon the people.
Although the law is called pro-
hibitory, it does not in any sense
prohibit, but prescribes how and
how much liquor may be pur-
chased by one person, leaving To-
cal sales in the hands of the drug
gists, and requiring all other
sales to be made outside the
state. The intent is to partially
regulate sales-strictly regulat-
ing those made within the state,
and trusting to luck that those
made without the state will not
be so numerous or 80 injurious as
under the vicious local option
plan.
If the genuine temperance peo-
pie of the state will look to the
enforcement of the new law, it
should work well. But if those
who are rabid either for or against
the use of liquor are permitted
to manipulate the enforcement of
the law, trouble may be expected
The new law recognizes the right
to buy, keep and use liquor, but
stringent provisions are made
against the sale or giving away of
liquor by individuals. To make
the law Of any value, bottlegging
must be vigorously prosecuted,
and it is made the privilege of
every citizen to aid in the en-
forcement of this law. Communi-
ties should see that this feature of
the law is enforced for largely
upon this feature rests the value
of the entire law. If people want
to buy liquor, they can do so
legally, in sufficient quantity to
remain drunk most of the time.
But they should be required to
buy legally.
| Over-zealous efforts of "dries"
are just as bad as petty law
evasions by radical "wets" in