Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-01
WHO ARE THE BRAvEq
Salt Lake CITY. Aug. /. 1901

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To the Editor OF the News"
We find the following telegram dated
Buffalo in last nights News.
AT a meeting OF the board OF direc.
held last evening II was decided that
the midway at the exposition should
be closed tight next Sunday"
What an outrage that II! What old
fogyisml Is II possible that the bigot-
ed directors OF the Buffalo exposition
do not realize that their city Is full OF
people who must have some place OF
recreation on Sundays7 DO they not
know that the Sunday laws were placed
on the statute books by "Cowards'
who never expected 10 have them
obeyed? Is great American city TO
return TO straight-lace Puritanlsm IN
this enlightened and progressive age?
In the name OF pabst, Schlltz, Anheuser
Busch and the editor OF the Salt Lake
Tribune. we raise our voices In mighty
protest. ELBOW CROOKS.
Our correspondent speaks In behalf OF
a class that Is cutting vigorous figure
In American society. II influences
mayors, police chiefs, city councils and
other dignltaries, II is because Of that
they feel able to brave the moral sem
timent Of the nation. and therefore are
not included in the list OF the "cow-
ards who embody the views OF the ma
jority into law. The idea that statutes
and ordinances to regulate public NOR
ais and preserve public order are to be
enforced, appears TO be OUT OF date with
the heroic defenders of wide open"
Sunday saloons, gambling houses. etc,
and all who advocate respect for that
kind OF legislation which would place
restrictions upon them, are denounced,
as behind the times. poltroonlsh and
puritanical.
Enactments against the evils that
are permitted 10 go on unchecked In this
city are not special to Utah or to Salt
Lake, They are common TO the best
and most advanced communities In the
United States. A strong movement
is on foot also In New Brunswick, ito
preserve Sunday intact as day OF
rest and worship" The elbow
Crooks" may pretend TO regard cham.
pions OF the Christian sabbath as Cow
ards or fossils" or what not but II
will be found when the contest reaches
a crisis, that they have the courage
OF their convictions. and the power OF
numbers that prevails.
They also have the logic Of the ques-
tlon on their side. II does not matter
whether the trainers Of the laws and
ordinances that forbid Sunday liquor
selling and gambling were poltroons or
stalwarts that does not affect the val
idity OF the legislation, nor the duty
OF the executive department of NUM-
cIpal or other government TO enforce
It. II they are brave" enough TO defy
the viii Of the people as expressed by
law, refuse TO perform their sworn
duty. and pander TO the wishes OF the
Elbow Crooks and the lowest ele-
ments OF society, why are they not
courageous enough to move for the
abolition OF the laws. said 20 have been
made by the towards" OF the country?
The action OF the directors OF the
Pan-American exposition is in accord
with the sentiments of the very best
people OF the land. and police officials
who think the support of the vicious
and the dlssolute Is all-sufllcient for
them. will find that they have made
an egregious blunder when the matter
comes to a test.
That laws and ordinances are Trained
10 be enforced. Is an axiom that needs
no argument. and that those who aid
in their violation. either by active par
ticipation or wilful neglect TO discharge
the duty of their suppression. are par
ticeps criminls is equally evident and
incapable OF refutation. Let this be
looked at squarely by the executive
officers OF this municipality.