The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-02-22
LOCAL OPTION.
A Lady Correspondent on This
Absorbing Topic.

THE HERALD, of yesterday, contained
an editorial on local option, which, II 1t
be an accurate statement of the cond:-
ton OF things in this Territory pre-
sents an anomaly in the history of legis
lation. First, three tourths of the legis-
lators IN favor of prohibition, and four
fifths of the people of the Territory are
opposed to the Iiquor-traffic, and yet
THE HERALD would have the one-6fth
rule. and the four-ffths be deprived OF
so simple and practical law IS "loca
option
1t is folly to say the majority cannot
rule in America; that they do not al
ways do so is because the maj GRITTY
claiming to be advocates OF temperance,
are at heart or from policy in sympathy
with the traffic.
will it be craftsmanship to attempt
something you know cannot be accom-
plished pr Yes, the highest kind of
craftsmanship. The same logic would
remove all laws from the statute books,
and do away with Divine law.
"Theres not law of all the ten
Butts broken every day;
There's not law that's made by mel
But travels the same way
Yet without law we could net live,
The world could never stand,
And so the thing for us TO 90
Is just to lend hand,
And help enforce the temperance laws,
In every way we can
And make this world better place
For fallen, tempted man."
Law is an educator "WhatsoeVer
things are lawful, they seem right"
Laws prohibit crime, but crimes are
committed all the same.
No one supposes a prohlbitory law
would wholly prevent drunkenness.
The primary objection to saloons is
not that they furnl.h an opportunity to
those who want to drink, but that they
furnish temptations to those who are
not now drunkards to become such.
rhe open saloon is continually max
ing, drunkards, and our boys are the
raw material. prohibitory law,
backed by the public sentiment OF
| three-fourths of the community, can be
so rigidly enforced that in five years a
drunkard would be a rare sight.
Utah has to-day the lowest form OF
temperance legislation, and while the
| license system continues with Ut any
| local option features, it must rank
among the worst rum cursed sections
of our country, notwithstanding all
protestations to the contrary.
| Only public sentiment, as 1t is en-
bodied in law, can be counted IN this
day. States, like individuals, must bs
Judged not by their intentions, but BY
their deeds. If the advice of TIL
HERALD is taken and no advance II
legislation is made, no logic can con
vince the thinking world that this peo'
pie is q temperate and Temperance
1 people.
No one now asks for prohibition. o
that the licanse laws be removed iron
the statu' cooks. We only ask that
commur - may be rid of the curse If
wants ~. The law does not now pro
tect lJwn. if one can be found VIII
will pay the license.
Local option cannot put the public I
enormous expense The election ca
be held at the same time others ar
held, when there will be little, If an
additional expense. 1t wilt put the pee
pie to little trouble. we admit, bu
parents will find much less trouble l
protecting their BOYS than in seem
them ruined for life through the t:mpt
atoms of leyalized saloon. No goo
comes to US without some pains.
Men of Utah. put yourselves on recor
in favor of better legislation. We be
believe you will do so.
C. S. BURNETT.