The Battle Over Local Option
Legislators in Olympia delay a high-stakes vote on local liquor control as members head out to visit state institutions.
Senator Taylor's celebrated local option bill was reached on the calendar this afternoon in the regular order. There was present a large number of persons interested in the bill. Senator Taylor, the father of the bill, asked that the bill go to the foot of the calendar. He explained that several members were absent visiting state institutions who had requested him to have it go over until their return, as they desired to vote when it came up for passage. Senator Dorr desired to have the bill taken up for immediate passage, but the friends of the measure refused to concur in the request. To prevent further discussion, Senator Lewis moved that it go over until next Tuesday. Taylor accepted the amendment, and the matter went over.
“Senator Taylor, the father of the bill, asked that the bill go to the foot of the calendar.”
The 'local option' movement was a precursor to the temperance battles that would eventually lead to Prohibition in Washington. Today, the debate over who controls liquor licensing—the state or the municipality—remains a recurring theme in Washington's civic life.
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