City Saloons Flouting Curfew and Liquor Laws
Walla Walla parents report minors drinking at local bars, raising concerns about the city's 'wide-open' policy.
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Whatever some girls may be doing about the observance of the curfew ordinance since the arrest of several girls in the Enterprise saloon a year or so ago, there is no question that in several saloons boys have had no trouble in buying liquor whenever they wanted it. The Statesman knows of instances, including one case where a one-eyed boy living on Park street and two companions aged fourteen to sixteen were seen at a bar drinking as freely as full-grown men. The Statesman believes it is the duty of parents to report such cases to the police rather than to the newspapers. While it is doubtful whether public sentiment will stand for the strict enforcement of the Sunday law, there is no question that right-thinking people condemn the sale of liquor to children, and do not believe the city's 'wide-open' policy should include free entry to gambling resorts for boys or back-alley entries for girls.
“The Statesman believes that it is the duty of parents to report such cases to the police rather than to the newspapers.”
Concerns over 'wide-open' municipal policies and the protection of minors in downtown spaces have been a constant thread in Walla Walla’s civic history. This 1903 editorial highlights the perpetual tension between local nightlife businesses and community efforts to enforce moral or safety ordinances.
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