Arizona republican., 1917-01-15
Why There Was No Disorder

Tie Republican has received letter from the Out look of New York nquirine concerning the present of the suhernatoria controversy and especially with regard a statement which has appeared in the eastern press that the peaceful settlement of tn controversy was large part due the fact that the absence of liquor Phoenix served discourage any attempt at violence.
 This opens a view upon very interesting and almost nexpicabe characteristic of not only Phoenix but believe of all Arizona towns of which people in other parts of the country ignorant More than that they have entirely contrary notion of the people of Arizona.
 In general it may be agreed that the presence of liquor contributes to violence and disorder and the absence of liquor is conductive to good order. Eut we dc think the quiet which attended the in- auguration of Campbell bore any relation all to fact that the and the dry. We do think that if the saloons had been wide open the proceedings the capital would have been any tumutuous.
 This statement he inferred be d arsu- nnent against advantages benefits prohibit tion. They have been amply proved tho last years in greater prosperity and in the greatly reduced number of arrests for crimes. The statement preliminary q tribute to the nbon disposition Of the people of Arizona good dur ing period covering generation
 
 than thirty years ago and ahout the time WAS lynchns Globe and think. one at Tomb stone. There has been other in Arizona since though crimes have been committed such as have fired mobs in Illinois, Indiana. Ohio and many other states of the north Here the people have believed that the laws they have passed sufficient
 Within the last fifteen twenty years there have been certain horrfyns crimes. and then crime against woman. that of the southern states would have been followed by the barnng of nend. Here t left the llw.
 Now and then as n the case of a celebration Of Mexican independence four years ago there sud denly precipitated racial outbreak which ended as il begun and though nishtfan there some teuseness. thought of the precaution of closing the saloons the first thiIi would have been done. and it would been quite necessary. in many parts the country.
 We unable to explain why Arizona towns have been different in this respect in the south and Why the people under self contained, but 1t is fact that they and have been so
 Liquor. of course. has been the of many crimes Of crimes here il has been every where. but it has been permitted be the cause Of riot a mob or any disturbance to | whole community.
 The for that las .been, that the who drank to excess were. rule. men who cut little figure in the community whether drunk sober The the head of affairs, the who had the quality of leadership in any undertaking either good bad were q rule sober men. Without them there could be widespread disorder and them it made no difference whether the saloons open closed.
 There time. however when prohibition undoubtedly prevented most serious disorder. That at the time of the Clifton strike little more than year It needed only whisky to fire the thousands of Mexican strikers of violence and fortunately the whisky hand But far concerns the gbernatoria controversy the people have never become excited No responsible citizen capable of heading effectively participating in n violent movement, has thought of doing And if whisky every day flowing freely it did that day sprinkled the streets with it. the attitude of the great responsible majority of our citizens would be unaffected