The Nome daily nugget., 1916-11-02
A GOOD
 EXAMPLE

We have been wondering how much the average Alaskan prohibitionist knows of the early history of Alas ka, when Alaska was dry" under na- tional laws. It certainly would add human-interest touch to their ef- forts to show how Alaska Is to be benefited by going dry if they would tell us of Skagway. Juneau, Dyea and other Alaska dry" towns in the days in which they were "dryest"-in the days of the late "Soapy" Smith. It is not probable that we shall ever forget how dry" Skagway was in '9S. on our first visit there. when we small streams and lakes and climb ing the Chilkoot-reached 1t from the inside. instead of from the outside, Chats the way temperance and ab- stinence must come to us--from within; not from without; In our selves. and not from others). Although we had lived and "done our duty" in the toughest, widest, wettest towns in the United States long years Le- fore that date. and although we had not taken 0 drink in ten full years before we hit Skagway (nor then, nor for years afterwards) we can safely say and honestly assert that Skag- under dry" laws was the "hottest" and most lawless small camp we evel saw. Whisky smugglers were on the coast as thick as mosquitoes, md there were more open saloons in dry Skagway than there ever have been since licenses were granted to sell liquor in Alaska. Then, as always in dry" camps. no s1.000 were neel- ed for license to open a place and sell liquor. Then, as now, where dry camps are, there are more places sell ing liquor than there are when 1t costs money to conduct such place. T"e only difference is that you get q
  higher price for it.
 It would interest us greatly to have the prohibitionist takers teach us by local and foreign example. rather th.,r by precept. They try to teach ns by alleged example, but the far away camp they pick for their illus trations always has a story to tell in iebuttaJ that the prohibitionlsts nevnr tells. It would especially interest ns 10 have them show us how Alaska will be better off. with a thousand places selling liquor without paying licenses for school money and other purposes, than with It's present mum. Der government licensed and gov ernment controlled. They will try to tell us that if prohibition Is put ur,n Alaska there will be no liquor gold here, but they can't make that talk stick with Alaskans, save pos silly, the women and children, for we know better. We know that when Aiaska was "dry" whisky was sold freely and openly everywhere. We know that even under government license and government control, whi ,h question, liquor is sold at every fish ing and mining camp, to the Indians, to the travellers over our military wagon road and to all corners; that 1t is impossible to visit town of dozen houses in Alaska where there arc no saloons and no licenses but that one can buy liquor there--what Is there in the magic word of pro hibition" that Is going to change things? The people woh don't drink and who don't want to drink rib up the women voters and the mental incompetents and pass a law which deprives able citizens. the backbone of the country, of their personal rights guaranteed to them by the constitution of the United States. but they do not and never can make the peopel who have had their personal rights taken away from them like the law which did it or respect such law.
 Let the prohibitlonists tell us Of the old days, when Alaska was In the prohibition ranks, with the entire federal service of the United States supposed to be engaged in the at tempt to keep liquor from being sold in Alaska. There never has been 30 much liquor sold in Alaska since.
 It really would make good story. --Fairbanks Daily New Miner July 1, 1918Advt.