Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-06-10
SUNDAY LlooUR SELLING.

me tNlDlANlllNlAA Va hf'~
tho ceiling OF intoxlcants on Sunday
,s no sudden squirt on the part OF the
county authorities, It Is evidently
meant 70 be n continuous effort, The
county commissioners have taken the
matter In hand. and the sheriff aud ms
deputies are carrying out Instructions
with a steady vlgor that is commenda-
Bile. A round was made on Sunday by
the officers, which demonstrated the
fact that the saloons outside Of the city
had taken the hint and all were closed
with the exception OF the bar at CAL
der's Park No liquor wine or beer
was sold at saltair A vlgllant watch
by the sheriff and his deputy failed to
show the slightest indication OF any
traffic OF the kind at that resort The
bar proprletors and two tenders at Cal
der'e Park were arrested, after the ofii-
GERS had purchased both liquor and
beer at that place.
Laws are worse than useless when
permitted TO remain a dead letter. They
should DO either enforced or repealed
The majority OF the people In this state
are opposed to the liquor traffic In all
It's forms. But they appreciate the i'm
possibility Of practical prohibition In
a community where any considerable
number OF persons create a demand for
intoxicating drinks. They also have re-
gard for the rights and desires Of peo-
pie who do not entertain the same
views In regard 10 stlmuants as they
hold themselves; therefore most Of them
agree that regulation and restriction OF
the liquor traffic are preferable to at
tempts at prohibition which do not ac-
tually prohibit.
Our state laws and city ordinances
have been framed with this understand
ing High licenses are required for the
sale OF intoxlcants. the revenues thus
derived being used for the public bene-
IL, and other regulations are imposed
for the preservation of public order
Among these is the forbiddlng OF
the eale Of any intoxicating drink on
the Sabbath day commonly called
Sunday, This is not a religious regula-
ton. While II conforms to the sentl-
ment Of religious people Of all sects
and denominations, II is also in con-
sonance with public opinion apart from
anything theological. Sunday Is a day
OF rest which is beneficial to humanity.
II should be day Of peace and quiet
ness. Anything that tends to its dis
turhance may be and should be re-
pressed by law. The sale of intoxicants
causes a disturbing element in society
and is therefore prohibited on that day
OF rest.
The question arises, however, why
should the law be enforced In the coun-
ty precincts and the city ordinances be
non'enforced within the city limts2 We
are credibly Informed that saloons in
this city with but few honorable excep-
tons, are permitted TO run wide open"
on Sunday, and no attempt appears TO
be made to compel compliance with the
ordinances relating to this traffic 1t Is
stated, on what we regard as good au-
thority that not only are all kinds Of
intoxicants sold in this city on Sundays,
but gambling also goes on In saloons at
the same time, and nothing is done to
prevent these infractlons Of law nor to
punish its ylolators.
In Ogden city, recently, an organlza-
ton was effected for the purpose OF
putting stop to this practice in that
city The principal agltators in behalf
Of law and morality found It necessary
TO walt upon the Mayor, IN order TO OBJ |
tain that enforcement Of the law which |
was desirable. That functionary re-
sponded, and the police under his in
structions soon brought an influence TO
bear upon the keepers Of saloons, and
their places Of resort were closed on
the Sabbath day Are we 10 UNDER
stand that similar movement win
have to be inaugurated in Salt Lake
city and similar steps will have TO be
taken here?
We are of the opinion that the Do
lice OF this city will TO the very best
Of their ability carry out instructions
IRON the Mayor and other city authori-
ties. II Is limited in some quarters
that the revenue derived from liquor
licenses and other sources. that ME
closely related 10 the traffic in the in.
toxieants which come under city regu- |
latons' Is regarded by the city au, |
thoritles as so valuable and necessary
that there is a reluctance to lnterfcr- |
enoe with the traffic many way Buteven
giving this consideration. the license
demanded for the carrying on OF This
business would not be diminished b, !
the closing Of saloons on Sunday. The
licenses issued do not include permis.
sion Tor Sunday liquor selling or gam
bling The returns would not be az
iected by the enforcement Of the city
ordinances concerning Sunday obsery-
ances.
It viii not be Of very great benefit
to the public TO have the statutes OF
the state carried out rlgidly at the
places OF resort within the county. Il
people who frequent them nm c,,a.,.
can 90 20 almost any saloon in salt
Lake City on that day, and lay in a
supply Of intoxlcan,s TO carry with
them TO the place Of recreation. 1t is