The Dispatch. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1891-04-08
THAT PETITION.

The retail liquor dealers have form
ulated a petition to be presented to
the City Council of Provo for their ac-
tion. That petition, however, is not a
petition. 1t is a demand, a compul-
sorry article without the power of COM
pelling. Strange, unique, comical.
1t is rare specimen of mixed right
and wrong. No one will say but what
the saloon men, in common with all
Americans, have a legal right to pc
tition, and in it set forth their griev-
ances, but common sense should al
ways dictate that the contents be in
harmony with the sensible require
ments of the petitioners; should have
a sparkling regard for those to whom
it is directed, and should be of that
nature that commands respect rather
than otherwise.
Men in position are not accustomed
to readily yield to a stern demand, to
compulsory decree, unless it be from
an authoritative source, and even then
theY obey grudgingly. It is human
nature to resist egotistical demands.
The Mayor and City Councillors have
not lost that nature because Of their
position.
1t is evident that the saloon men
everywhere, when they have complied
with the requirements of the law
governing their business. should be
protected in their legitimate pursuit,
and those who are known to infringe
upon their rights should pay the pen
atty. Discrimination in favor of a
certain class who sell liquor against
another class engaged in the same
business is a wrong that should not
exist. Twelve hundred dollars year
is a good sized license to pay for the
privilege of selling intoxicants; it is
none too much unless another class
is allowed to sell the same stuff for a
less price. In such a case a conflict
necessarily arises and the injured ones
have just right to ask for redress.
No one viii deny that right. But the
manner and the method of asking
should be Of consistent character
and the matter to be presented should
harmonic throughout. This petition
fails in these.
The tion says: I'VE think that
there a g ghts which belong to men
in our bus ness" True, and there are
rights longing to all men. some of
which IL ys sacred, the rights of
wives and Io.hers, rights that petl-
tlon every day and every night, un-
seen but not lent, before the City
Council Gt Provo, asking it to use its
best measures TO save their husbands
and sons from the degradation of be-
coming drunkalds.
The first grievance sets forth:
'We believe others are conducting
the same business, to-wit: The sale
Of and disposal of Intoxicating
liquors, without license . If others
sell or in any way dispose of intoxi-
eating drinks without license, it is a
wrong Of no small magnitude. BY it
they infringe upon the license rights
of legalized business, rob it Of its le-
gitimate patronage, afford a shelter
for gamblers, and are inviting places,
often times for crime to find a lodg-
ment.
The second grievance is about police
officers invading their saloons by a
claim of right, thus intimidating reg
ular customers and sin a manner
coercing them" so that their busi-
ness has not been as profitable as
it might be. Is not a licensed saloon,
public house? Is it not under the
protection of the law? Is it not fact
that offences and crimes are more often
committed in saloons than in any
other public place? And is it not the
duty Of the law by its proper agents
to preserve order, to quell disturbance
and prevent crime? Further, is it not
fact that the presence of a policeman
in q saloon, as well as other places,
has, by virtue of his authority, tend
ency to preserve order and sustain
tae morals of the community"
The signers are evidently trying to
perpetrate joke on the Council whan
they say that the presence of the po-
liceman intimidates and coerces "reg-
ular customers. +" Regular customer"
haye different fibre, fibre which
shame nor fear nor intimidation nor
coercion can have but little effect.
They are impregnable.
The petition asks the council to pass
an ordinance prohibiting the presence
OF minors in saloons, and in this they
pledge their support in order to ''pre-
serve the morals Of the community. :"
This is sensible talk, it is a needed
reform. If their entire line of presen-
tation ran parallel with this nc one