Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-07-07


The NEWS desires to protest, In the
most emphatic manner, against a
species OF imposition upon strangers
and visitors which during come days
past has been praoticed, TO the disgrace
OF the town anu to the modification
OF all who have had pride In Its
good name. The protest will be too
late to be Of anvil In the CASE OF the
Christian Endeavorers who were be-
euiled, not TO say vlctimlz bat in
view of the approaching Jubilee, 1t
may be In time 20 prevent u recur-
renee OF some OF the same tactics II
attempted upon the visitors who may
DO In attendance ON that occasion.
We refer to the hali.Jozen or more
tricks resorted to to extorl quarters.
dimes and nickels from unwary or in
quisitive strangers. We hear OF self
constituted "guides" who, forcing
themselves upon n party OF tour
lists, undertake 10 give in
formation and point out places oil
Interest generally making their
stories as sensational, and therefore
usually as false, as their meagsr intel.
iects are capable of-and not forgetting
TO collect for the service thus rendered.
Other catch-pebny devices have bee
employed Of which we have heard,
aud there are no doubt many OF which
we have not heard, not including the
wiles VI the confidence man and the
tricks Of the bunco.steereT.
We shsll be asked why it is not
legitimate to derive profit from ope's
possessions or ones ability, 80 long as
people are not forced into bestowing
their patronage and think they are
getting their moneys worth. Such
a question is but a psrpphrnse OF the
sharper's logic: ga sucker is born
every minute, and while bis expert
ence with me costs him little money,
it is worth something to him to have
his head wslI.bumped--lt teaches him
TO beware of smarter folks than him.
SELF" or course there is q difference
between taking a tourisl's money at
the point Of gun, and inducing him
to give it up willingly for what he
expects to be value received; just as
there are differences In the de-
grees OF murder and In all
other crimes. We shall not dit
cues these distinctions. however, for
we presume that where the law can
take cognizsnce OF ofienses it will 10
so Tor the protection of society. What
we do protest against 10 the class OF
tricks which cannot be, or at least are
not, repressed by ordinance or statute,
but which are impositions neverthe-
less. We protest against them because
they are a reflection upon the credit
and reputation OF the town, We
protest against them because In
some OF the aspects assumed
there 10 an element of deseoration, and
honored memories are bound to be
associated. in the minds OF come
visitors at least, with the eordid
vulgarily OF the Snowman. We
protest against them because
In many instances those VIII o
are 10 no way responsible for
them are blamed for the abuses prsc.
ticed; and not only are reputable indi.
viduals but frequently is a reputable
community made to bear the odium of
Ofienses of which they are not guilty.
There are no doubt persons upon
whom this appeal and protest will
have no effect; II they can chase and
overtake the nimbls nickel by any
scheme plausible with uninitiate AMI
inquisitive sojourners. they will maks
hay while the Jubilee sun shines. 1t
lie to DO hoped, however, that neither
the favor nor the generosity OF less
selfish Irlends among the townspeopls
will add to their opportunities or widen
their field OF operations