The Temperance Conflict: Saloons vs. Druggists
A bitter feud over illicit sales, city ordinances, and Sunday gambling in Chehalis.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A bitter war is on between the liquor men and the druggists of Chehalis. The saloon owners claim that the drug stores have been selling liquor in violation of city ordinances, noting that they pay heavy licenses for the privilege of selling and wish to see their business protected. Two local druggists, C. W. Johnsone and W. C. Marion, were brought before Judge Pickens, but were released due to insufficient evidence. Following the acquittal, the saloon men filed a new complaint before Justice Mead, subpoenaing prominent business leaders as witnesses. The druggists have countered by threatening to ensure that ordinances regarding Sunday closing and gambling are strictly enforced, creating a tense atmosphere ahead of the upcoming city election.
“The drug men claim that they have been dealing legitimately and promise that if they are made trouble they will see that the Sunday closing and gambling ordinances are strictly enforced.”
This 1893 turf war over 'wet' business competition anticipates the long, local struggle for prohibition that eventually saw Washington go dry in 1916. Today's debates over licensing and civic enforcement in Seattle's nightlife districts echo the same friction between established operators and evolving neighborhood standards.
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