The Alaska daily empire., 1916-11-01
THE PROHIBITION PROPOSITION AGAIN

The prohibition proposition that is before the people of Alaska Is not that wfch is being tried cut in the States Of Washington and Oregon. Those States have not prohibition. They simply have what Mayor Giu truly says is an an,isaloon law. The law there permits the ot approximately five gallons of liquor per month to the nudidual. The proposi- ton that is submitted to the people Of Alaska is straight and absloue prohibition.
 The proposition in Alaska does not provide any means for meeting the demand for acohiic bcyer- ages as the laws in Washington and Oregon do.
 Therefore. the incentive Co violate the law under the Alaska proposal would be much greater than it is in those States. and who has witnessed conditions in Seattle Portland who has read the newspapers concerning those States. needs be told that the incentive there seems to be great And strange as it may appear. thousands of other wise law abiding people do not regard violation of prohibition laws criminal Any one who has spent any time in a tirstclass Seattle hotel knows this
 And further than that the question is being sub, mted 10 Alaskans before the people have the power to enforce prohibition laws There power vested in the people here to prevent the importation Of liquor There is no governmental machinery in Alaska to suppress "booteggng
 Therefore what might the people of Alaska ex. pect in case prohibition thrust into the local situaton2 Does any need be told that illicit traffic in liquor would become Alaskan industry? Does any one need be told that the result would be to transfer the drinking places from lawregulaed saloons to illicit road-houses and brothels' Does anyone need be told that there would be addi- ,ions to the number of lawbreakers?
 Are people taking into account the circumstance that the liquor traffic. that would certainly follow attempt to enforce prohibition with the inadequate governmental machinery in Alaska would be under conditions and in places where the restraints of bus ness and social associations would be removed? Are they considering that the traffic under these cond tons would invite excesses and vices that much greater and more harmful and more dangerous than the intemperance that is incidental poiced sa- looms?
 But h is said. the law that is being submitted uon they is but method Of measuring the sent- ment Of the people and it would require Congressional legislation to enforce it.
 Then why inject problem into the chaotic affairs Of Alaska this time? The people of Alaska are fighting to get control of their government They want to manage their fisheries They want to con trol their schools They want to regulate their own taxes and finances. They want, in short. to enjoy the privileges Of full Territorial form of government Then why inaugurate campaign to establish in the Territory another branch of Federal machinery? Why not delay this prohibition contest until the people through united action. secure all the necessary powers to run their countryl Why make con- fusion worse confounded?
 There is only one sane. selfprotecting and og- cal open to the voters of Alaska irrespective of what might be their attitude toward the liquor traffic in general and that is to for deay-voe down the proposition that has been inopportuney set before the people And thereby for self government first.