Stevens County's First Prohibition Convention Vows to 'Kill the Saloon' for Good

The first Prohibition convention ever held in Stevens county was convened at the court house in Colville Friday afternoon, and after an interesting session lasting all the afternoon concluded with a rally in the evening, when an address was delivered by W. B. Eakin, of Spokane.

The convention was organized by the election of W. B. Van Valin, Chewelah, chairman; C. C. Gibson, Garorae; L. O. Street, Chewelah; R. C. Moter, Newport, and J. M. Scroogs, Colville, vice-chairmen; Ralph Van Valin, Colville, secretary; and A. T. Frame, Chewelah, treasurer, the organization being made permanent. It was decided not to place a ticket in the field, but only to organize the work throughout the county. There was a liberal attendance. Most of the larger towns, including Northport, Newport, Chewelah, Kettle Falls and Hunters, were represented.

The Prohibition party of Stevens county, in convention assembled at Colville July 31st, 1908, expresses gratitude to Almighty God for past victories, and recognizes Him as the source of authority in government, and makes the following declaration of principles as its platform:

We endorse the platforms of the state and national conventions and pledge fidelity to the principles of the same, and support to the nominees of the Prohibition party of state and nation.

While our present liquor laws are wicked in principle, yet there are certain prohibitive features about them that enables any community to free itself from the saloon. But all action, under either our present laws or under local option, only serves to keep the question constantly before the people. What we demand is a solution of the problem that will not need to be worked out at every election. Let us solve the problem so that it will stay solved. We propose to kill the saloon, not for a time, but for all time.

We reaffirm our former convictions that 'local option' is not the final solution of the beverage liquor traffic. Local option makes a prohibition party all the more necessary. Hence we conclude that prohibition laws, backed by a prohibition party is the only solution of the liquor problem.

We believe that the time has come in this county when saloons in all places outside of incorporated towns should be closed upon the expiration of licenses now running, and on behalf of the Prohibitionists of Stevens county we hereby petition the honorable board of county commissioners to reject all applications for saloon licenses hereafter.