Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-02-27
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC..

A contributor to the Independent,
commenting on the antl-saloon move
ment in Kansas explains that the sltua-
ton there is the outcome Of conditions
for which "hard times originally are
responsible. During the nineties most
Of the towns were hard pressed FOR
money Valuation on property was fall
ing, taxes were high. and the population
was decreasing, Interest on bonds was
becoming n burden Then the saloon
lists started business. They were fined
but they were permitted TO keep run
ming, They were fined again, but their
places were not closed City councils
held executive sessions and ealoon
keepers, by some sort OF an agreement,
were assessed $50 month. or every 9TH
er month Most towns had two saloons,
and come had from Ave 10 ten The
financial stress was relieved, and the
custom spread. IN other words, the sa-
loon keepers were made tax collectors,
through whom the consumers Of liquor
we're made TO pay to the public treasur-
les considerable sums Of money with
which to run the municipal govern
ments.
AS long as hard times lasted, the Joint
keeper was tolerated, but now the pro-
hlblton sentiment has again become 80
strong that woman OF Mrs. Nations
character can with mpunty lead
crusade of violence against the vendors
Of liquor.
This Is the explanation offered by the
writer In the Independent. Whether that
tells the entire story or not. It is GER
tain that one general argument in Ia
vor Of the saloon traffic is, and always
has been, that II Is needed for the sake
OF the revenue. That this reasoning
rests on fallacy has often been pointed
out Drunkenness Is responsible for a
large amount Of crimes, insanity, power
ty, and domestic unhapplness 1t it did
not exist the cost for the maintenance
of police forces, prisons, asylums, and
poor houses would be largely reduced.
It Is a poor financial policy that main
talns ruinous traffic for the revenue
a traffic that brings vastly
larger expense indirectly, than the
direct income II yields. 1t is
like burning the floors, doors
and window frames OF house,
In order to save cost on fuel. II Is to
give away the goose and receive In ex-
change the feathers. Kansas. being a
prohibition State, should not have le-
galized, in any way, the business which
Is now the object OF a crusade. This
will, according to all indications, before
long. cost the state dearly There is
anarchy now. Murder has been COM
mltted. Strong efforts must be made to
bring order into the confusion.
An entirely different question is
whether 1t Is possible. under present
conditions, to suppress the liquor traf-
lc-whether, In other words, prohibi-
ton really prohibits, Many hold that
It does not, and II this Is true, regula-
ton by law would certainly be better
than a law that cannot be enforced.
Even the Ruler OF all men sometimes
substitutes a "carna" code for the
higher law until the children Of men
have obtained the moral and intellec.
tual education needed for more per-
feet condition.
But this is, as to prohibition, a moot
ed question. In some places prohibition
would probably prohibit, while in 9TH
ers 1t would not Some communities
are on higher moral level than others.
Local option seems to be an effort at
recognizing this fact and the principle
should perhaps, be more generally APP
piled than 1t Is at present.