The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-07
A SHAME.

1t is tough name which Salt Lake city
is getting abroad. There was time, and
1t was only little while ago, when the
residents of this city were boastful of the
municipal government. They were proud
TO say that no matter how bitter the reli-
glous quarrel might be, the city was
peaceful, quiet and law abiding; that the
liquor traffic was kept under better control
than in any other western city; that pros
tltution was frowned upon and its votaries
punished; that gambling was forced ont of
public view and made criminal; that the
Sabbath was respected; in fact, that the
vices and. immoralities which tlourished
elsewhere were placed under check here.
All this has been changed in one short
year, and we find in the newspapers else
where many such editorial blasts as the
following, which appeared in the Helena
Herald:
About year ago. very early. in fact in the
last new year, the L berals had a great rising
in Zion, and cartel the municipal election AT
one fell Swoop the Mormon Israel was gobbled
up 10y the Genliles.
Not one little year has yet run its course
since this victory was won. and now the law
and order eemeat in the Liberal party, some Of
the very men VINO elected the Liberal ticket
are protesting in public assembly against some
of the acts OF the govcram n they created
Their complaint is c)uca3l Ii the following
language:
II Is reported on cool authority that there
are now over eighty licensed saloons in this
city; that the Sc salOols, or mI1y 81 tn IN, are
kept open on ths SABBATH day. and sell LIQUOR
10 minors contrary 10 law: that the laws
against galnblu houses and brolheis are
broken with -mpuLily. and that appar-
entity no determined eloris are being made
for the enforcec e II OF liw against these forms
OF wee and crime: therefore II Is the sense of
this congregation that the city government
should strictly enforce existing laws against
houses Of prostitution, gambling keeping
saloons open on Sunday, and all 9th er forms Of
vice; also. that it is the sense of this meeting
that no more saloons should be licensed in this
city"
This IS, assuredly, a serious charge against a
city government that was ushered in with a
grand hurrah Of reform. When the Mormons
were in power it was always held by the Liber-
ais that they were too active in supporting the
evil here complained of, and the reform that
they wanted is the very one which has come
about. Truly politics in Zion is fearful and
wonderful thing.
When reading such things one who loves
Salt Lake is forced to blush He feels a
sense OF shame thai such things can be said
and he cannot deny their truth.
1t is to be hoped that the municipal au-
thorities will drop their do-nothing policy
and take course to restore the good name
CT this city. a few days effort on the part
Of the city officials would close every
gambling den in town, would shut up every
house of ill-fame, would firmly bolt the
doors o. every saloon on Saturday night,
and would make this city one of law and
order such as it has always, until the past
few months, been.
Isn't it a shame that newspapers can pub
lish such awful truths as they are publish
ing regarding Salt Lake?