The Sunday Saloon Wars: How Seattle Debated the 'Law and Order' Ordinance

The City Council met this evening. Councilman Yesler opposed the ordinance. He said: 'In passing this ordinance we will not be voting against business men. I have many friends who are business men and men who sell whisky and men who sell dry goods. I oppose this ordinance because four business men asked for a Sunday law. Now, the Sunday law business originated from the city of Olympia. They tried it, and I hear they now have more saloons, more drunkenness, and more trouble in Olympia than they had before the passage of the law.'

Councilman Latimer favored the ordinance. He said: 'A law is just as strong as the public sentiment behind it is strong. The present movement leading to the passage of this ordinance grew out of impressive insolence on the part of the liquor dealers, and I felt it was time a halt was being called. I considered the ordinance prepared by the Attorney not an injury but a benefit to the liquor dealers.'

Councilman Yesler added: 'I was raised in the prohibitory State of Maine, where we used to have Methodist revivals or camp meetings, and I’ve seen more drunken men, women, and girls around those camp meetings than I ever saw in Seattle... The trouble is people spend too much time preaching, and talking about their neighbors, and not enough in attending to their own business and raising their families properly. I hope the ordinance won’t pass.'

On calling the roll, the ordinance passed by the following vote: Yea—Frye, Latimer, Northup, Rinehart, and Sox. Nay—Clancy and Yesler.