The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1897-10-19

High License-Strict Regulations.

Editor BANNNR - gladly accept your |
kind proffer of the use of the BANNERS |
valuable columns for the discussion OF
the question that is an issue in the |
present campaign. First, l am III
sympathy with all legitimate efforts to
hinder the progress of intemperance, o
my arguments will relate to the methods
that are proposed to accomplish this re-
suit. Will an effort towards prohibition
by the nominees ON the Democratic
ticket give more satisfactory results than
a policy OF high license and strsct regu
lations by the nominees on the Republic
can ticket? The history Of our city prior
TO high license teaches us that prohibi-
ton was mpracticable-tha the sale OF
Intoxicating liquors could not be
checked prohibition simply meant
"a system OF "dives." In Logan in was
the same. A few years ago, so says
local paper, that city supported six dives
in thriving condition, while today
they have only two saloons and they
are strictly regulated. In a recent issue
of the Sprngville Independent its editor
refers to the system of prohibition in
that town as II "farceV and fraud"
In fact it is reality that one of the
largest whiskey dealers in Salt Lake
City sells more spirituous liquor in
Springville than in any other city in our
county, and it is a notorious fact that
the city supports twice as many dives a,
any other city in the county does salo-
-ons. Prior to high license in Lehi the
the City Council and office Of Marshal
were filled with as capable and honest
snen as are the nominees on the Demo-
cratic ticket, yet at the time when l,igh
license was adopted three women, one
minor, one drug store, merchant and
several others made a business OF selling
intoxi, ating liquors. Need We expect
different conditions from the aspirants |
who are running upon the prohibition
platform? Three OF the candidates for |
Councilmen and the candidate for
Justice have made statements, that can |
be substantiated by unimpeachable
witnesses. that prohibition is i'm
practicable, and the two candidates who
resigned did so because of the same
belief. Does not the history Of the
candidate for Marshal trend in the same
direction.
Under our present system about $500
an cash is raised FROM direct taxes, and
81 900 from liquor licenses. So with an
election of the prohibition ticket 1t
would mean that if the same improve
ments are kept up our taxes must be |
increased three times. On the other
hand we have proposed system of
high licenses and strict regulations.
With energetic officers, all minors would
be prohibited from buying liquor, saloons
would be closed on Sundays and after
midnight, and an officer could entsr at
any time, thus preventing the damnable |
curse of gambling from being carried on
an connection with system of dives
We all desire the time when many
features of the Millennium may be realiz-
ed, but under the present condition OF
nnaaRlhu an attempt at eltntr extreme
as unwise James A. Garfield once said,
81 have seen the sea dashed into fury and
tossed into spray, and its granduer
moves the soul of the dullest man. Yet
remember it is not from the pillows
chat all heights and depths are measured |
but from the calm level Of the ocean,"
And so it is with prohibition and low
license and loose egulations-either
extreme is false measure while wisdom |
and prudence from calm basis would |
direct measure OF reason. high license
and strict regulation Mod ration is
the silken thread running through the
pearl chain OF our virtues.
ABsTANER.