Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-04
IN rnr INTEREST OF TEMPERANCE.

There are number of cities In this
majority of the people favors cur
failing the evils Of the saloon and OF the
liuuor traffic by means OF stringent
ordinances, and In some OF them there
is a pronounced sentiment in favor OF
prohibition. In several cities In the
state the city counciln are now
struggling with the great liquor
problem,
The sentiments OF the "News' In
regard to the liquor trafIlc are TOO
well known to need repetition at TINS
time. For nearly half d century THIS
paper has. whenever tho occasion mas
been appropriate, expressed the view
that strict regulation OF the trafhc
should be enforced everywhere. ana
that prohibition Is u good thing where
popular sentiment sufficiently supports
the legislative and executive depart
ments of the municipal governments
in the effort to enforce IL. But c0ndi-
lions have arisen in this State since
division came" that call for a modi-
flcation of the policy In dealing with
the liauor question which was favored
by strong majority OF the inhabitants
OF many of its towns and cities In
former years.
Before the voters of Utah were
divided on national party lines the
LIQUOR problem at times figured
prominently in connection with the
government OF some of the larger
towns in the then Territory, but mem
ory does not recall an instance in
which II was ever made party ques-
ton, or n vehicle on which political
party sought to ride into power, by
catering to either the saloon or the
temperance vote. Men favored or OPP
posed anti-liquor Legislation on other
grounds than partisan advantage, or
from other motives than the spells of
office.
But unhappily for many munioipaii-
ties In the state. a very different status
exists in them now. Party feeling
runs 80 high. and the desire for Office
| is SO intense, that men who are them
selves among the best patrons OF the
rumseller are more than willing to
come before the suffragists OF the town
in the garb of pronounced advocates Of
temperance. II by 80 doing they can
secure office: and on the other hand
there are good church people who
however, are none too good to form
alliance with the saloon element II by
such q course they can Insure the cleo
| tion of their party ticket Petty ware
politicians are ready and willing {,
4 degrade the great moral issues involved
! in the saloon question to the level o
partisan strife for pelf and power; ant
the extraordinary partisan zeal. to use
no harsher term. which the people dis
! play. and their seeming willingness Il
sacrifice every consideration ON the al
tar OF party, make 1t easy for the pol
! iticians to divide the ranks Of thos
who. were not their parusanisn
aroused. would be the true and activ
friends Of temperance.
The existence OF the condition her
described is certainly TO be deeply re
GREETED. 1t is deplornble to see peopl
who, al their lives, have been oppose
to the saloon and the gigantic evil
thut spring from 1t. stand ready to Jol
hands with It's supporters for the SAX
of eiecting their party Ticket and car
turing for themselves or thelr friend
the questionable honors OF the minC
offices that go to make up the govern
ment of the town. But the momei
that sees the saloon question become
political issue in either of a numb'
of Utah cities, will also see what hi
Just been described.
II follows therefore that the tri
friends OF temperance and the genuir
opponents of the saloon should exc
themselves to prevent the llquoF que
ton from Incoming an issue in nun
cipal politics. When IL is made sue
an issue II is inevitable that at lea
portion of the friends of temperan
will be found working In behalf OF u
saloon, after as well as before electio
If the temperance party wins at u
polls. former friends OF temperate
under the influence OF ward politician
will be found trying 10 harrass II 81
to discredlt and prevent the success
its policy; while II the friends of q
saloon are successful. victory viii c
ment the friendship and strengthen q
mutual obligations existing between q
I saloon element and the Granville a
= vocates OF an opposite policy who ha,
e been made bedfellows by the exigeI
i cies of ward politics. Al
|. The saloon vastly increases US POI