The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1916-06-22
Both Sides Are Framing Measures
For Ballot.

Both Sides Are Framing Measures
For Ballot.
The friends of the brewers are cir
culating a petition to permit the re-
opening of breweries in Oregon. They
state that Acc beer is non-intoxicat-
ing, light and simple beverage and
try to create the impression that beer
drinking is harmless, notwithstand-
ing convincing testimony of examin'
ers for life insurance and physicians
wko say, "that the beer drinker is
much worse off than the whiskey
drinker."
The brewers seek the right to man
ufacture, sell and deliver beer in Or
iginal packages, with no restriction
as to the size of the package, which
may result in its being handled in
small bottles, thereby practically re-
establishing its retail distribution un-
der conditions which would be diff
ficult to control.
Their argument commences with
the following preamble: "We the
undersigned feel that there is lack
of logic. even from prohibition
point of view, in allowing beer and
intoxicating liquors to be brought in.
to the State, yet forbid the manufac-
ture OF beer in the State" This state
ment probably reflects unanimous
verdict.
Notwithstanding its shortcomings,
the friends of prohibition had pur-
posed to give tbs present law long
er trial. but they now feel that they
are not only released from any actual
or implied obligation to DO so, but
that this action of the brewers i'm
pels then to accept their chaiisage
BY initiating a counter-amendmeHt
so framed as to remedy the illogical
provisions complained Of and remoTa
the privilege granted to those who
still wished to indulge themselves
and give real constitutional prohibi-
ton to the people Of Oregon,
This new amendment is short and
simply adds the following to the pres
ent constitutional provision. "Sec-
ton 3eA. No intoxicating liquors
shall be imported into this state for
beverage purposes" This will result
in removing the alleged defects Of
our present law, instead of enlarging
them.
Those who believe In prohibition
prefer an offensive rather than q de-
fensive fight; to 60 forward rather
than backward; and strive for such
legislation as will give them all that
they want, rather than defend that
which gives them only a part.
With the reopening of the brew
cries it would be impracticable to re-
strict the amount of liquor manufac-
tured. 1t is claimed that one of Ore
gon's brewery plants alone could
manufacture in few days, all the
beer now being imported in a year.
This new dry amendment is initial
ed by the Prohibition Party and was
drafted by Ex-Governor West with
the collaboration of Attorney-Gen
Brown. It is endorsed by the Port
land Ministerial Association, the
Oregon Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union, the Anti-Saloon League
of Oregon and the Woman's Prohibi-
ton Club of Portland. The follow
ing are a few well-known citizens
who have signed the petition: Os-
wald West, Ex-Governor; Charles b
Moores, State Chairman of the Re-
publican party; J. P. Newell, State
Chairman of the Prohibition party;
Mrs. Jennie M. Kemp, State President
of the w. C. T. u; Mrs. Adah Wal,
lace Unruh, well-known National lee
turer; Elisha A. Baker, president OF
the Anti-Saloon League; DR.. w. o.
Shank, President of the Portland
Ministerial Association; Rev. w. N
Coffey, Presiding Elder of the Free
Methodist church; DR.. w. F. Amos
Vice Chairman of the State Prohibi.
ton Committee; Harry w. Stone
General Secretary of the Y. M. G. A.;
B. Lee Paget, F. M. Phelps, w. +
Critchlow, E. T. Johnson, DR.. j. L.
Hewitt, w. C. Foertshe, DR.. Geo. b
Pratt, Capt. w. E. Warren, F. Nc
Kercher, ]. T. Wilson.