Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1916-04-20
Prohibition Legislation

It is going be very difficult and. believe i'm
possible to to secure change in prohibition
legislation this FAN by the initiative process. That
is. do not think the "dr>s' in making
the present law any rigid that the "wets"
Viii be able to have even the topmost bars thrown
down. vote is being taken in CSochise
county hy of a ballot containing five ques-
lions answers the four Of which, if the re-
Spouse should be fairly general would be something
of "a gauge of public sentiment The questions are:
]. DO YOU the saloon to return?
.. DO YOU want local option to take the place
Of prohibition"
.. Shall make it unlawful use or possess
liquor a beverage?
4. Do YOU want laws enacted restricting and linn
ring the liquor that is be introduced?
:. DO you drink intoxicating liquor?
The answer to the last question we suppose is to
ne considered explanation of the answers to the
others
Fifty answers have been received To question
~. ] there yes and 46 mo-" to question
80. .. yes" a. no" question No g. q yes
20 no There is report of the vote on questions
Nos. and .. We assume that the questions bringing
the foregoing answers were indiscriminatey
so that the answers may be considered fairly repre-
sentative The vote on question is rather close but
we imagine that in the seclusion voting booth
the noes would make gains
W. understand that the vets have two plans
under consideration. Some of them want to propose
q straight repeal of tho prohibition amendment but
large ma iority of them concede that that is homo
less this time Others favor local OPTION and here
also. there is some division. desire to submit
the local option question on the reopening Of the
saloons they formerly existed. Others believing
that even that is hopeless the question
Oh the opening of a limited number Of family liquor
stores under high license and very rigid state or
municipal regulation. We do not believe that any
Of these propositions would receive majority of the
votes that would be them at the next election
1t is evident though as The Republican pointed
ont two years ago that 1t would be that the probi
billion amendment would have to be supplemented bv
legislation to make it fully effective Such egisa-
non would necessarily embrace many features and
would be OF character not easily presented to the
people at the polls 1t is rather task for the egs-
ature where such bill could be carefully threshed
out out even there the threshing out would have to
he done bv selected men who wonld he concentrations
preferably men favorable prohibition: but anyhow
men who desire the honest enforcement of all laws
We believe therefore. that those who are for nro
H'uoh would do better to devote their energies to
The selection Of the right kind of men for the Iegis
azure than to spend it in devising initiative measures
We believe that the passing of the prohibition
amendment has been of the greatest benefit to the
people OF this state, any attempt to repeal
the law or hamper its operation should be overwhem.
insly defeated. We believe also that legslat ior
shond he enacted afford machinery for its fullest
operation