The Prohibitionist's Flip-Flop
A key Everett anti-saloon organizer publicly declares local option a failure, calling for high license fees instead.
Harry H. Lamonte, a prominent local option worker in Everett, author of practically all the campaign press material for the 'drys,' served as their secretary and was admittedly one of the main factors in the closing of the saloons there, declares himself in favor of high license for Everett and asserts that local option has proved a complete failure in that city. Lamonte kept his eye on the legislative situation, session of 1911, while working a clerk in the senate.
“local option has proved a complete failure in that city.”
The transition from total prohibitionist goals to regulated high-tax 'license' models reflects the ongoing tension in Washington between moral crusades and the pragmatic fiscal realities of the liquor trade.
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