Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-31
THE SITUATION AS IT is.

The advocates OF lHf HoA-''ii"i
Of the laws. and ordinances prohibiting
the sale Of intoxlcants on Sundays, are
IN n worse position than ever since the
police have taken action against the
sale Of liquor 20 minors, and the alieged
infraction Of the laws by certain deal
ers in drugs. It appears that notice was
served by the police department upon
the saloon. keepers. and also upon the
druggists, that the ordinances relating
10 those matters would be enforced
Prosecutions have been commenced
against the sale OF liouor without a IT.
cense, and the probability is that The
methods employed 20 secure conviction
win be pretty thoroughly discussed.
As 10 the merits Of these prosecutions
we have nothing to say pending the
investigation except this: While II has
been decided by some courts that a
municipal body has no right to use
means TO induce anyone to violate the
law, tina, does not relieve the law
breakers Of responsibility for their DO
lngs. They are none the less culpahle
because somebody else has participated
in the offence. Tommy is none the less
guilty OF wrong-doing, because he
pleads that Billy helped him or induced
him to commit the wrong.
But the point to which we desire TO
draw attention Is this: II the exeeu-
tive department Of Salt Lake city can
serve notice on liquor-sellers, that the
ordinances will be enforced In one or
two particulars. the same could be done
as TO others. II not, why not? If no
tice was sent from the same source that
intoxicants must not be sold on sun
day, as the law provides, and this was
followed by action showing that the
officers meant what they said, the evil
complained Of would soon be reduced
to a minimum. This Is well known to
the police, and has been privately ac-
knowledged though not publicly carried
out.
There -is no argument to meet the
proposition. that executive officers have
no right TO choose or discriminate as
20 which ordinances they will enforce
and which they will ignore. When they
attempt to excuse their refusal TO do
their sworn duty, by expressing their
personal opinion about Nhe wisdom or
folly OF the laws they are selected and
paid to enforce, they expose themselves
to the charge Of impudence and pre-
sumption. in addition to that OF dere-
llction OF duty.
The ordinance forblding the sale of
liquor without license, also prohibits
its sale on Sundays. Why be fierce to
enforce one part, and refuse TO enforce
another? A great deal Is said about
closing certain places tight on Sunday.
end Of shutting front doors and OPEN
ing side and back doors. That is all
outside Of the question, II is not a
door matter at all, The laws Of the
state and the ordinances Of the city
provide penalties for selling intoxlcants
at any time during the first day OF
the week. commonly called Sunday"
Closed or open doors or windows have
nothing TO do with the case" The
law does not forbid men to enter places
Of rest or refreshment, or 10 partake
OF necessary yiands, The simple re-
quirement Is that intoxicants shall not
be- sold on Sundays This extends to
all places Of resort in the state wheth-
er within or without the limits Of
city.
The law has been enforced strictly
at times; at others II has been meas
urably ignored. II II now openly de-
fed and apparently the officers whose
duty It is 10 execute the law favor its
infractiou. Whenever there has been
occasion, during the past half n CEN
tury. for drawing attention to the evil,
the Deseret News has aided the advo-
Gates Of law and order in their endeav-
ors to have Il abated The consequence
has been either the entire suppression
Of Sunday liquor traffic through the
prosecution Of offenders. or It's restric-
ton within such limits as satisfied the
public. Many saloon-keepers In the
past have been fined Tor Sunday liquor
selling This proves that the section
Of the ordinance against Il Is not a
mere sentiment but was framed to b,
enforced Ike all other parts OF II about
which there IS no dispute
The attempts made 20 impugn the
motives Of thc societies, and lniividu-
ais, and papers that demand either tn,
enforcement Of the laws or their repeal
are, In the minds Of rational and we'll
Informed people. arguments In favor OF
the position we have taken The exple.
tives used are but the troth from
frenzied lips. and the wrath Of passion
In lieu OF the sense Of reason. They
damage the cause which they are de-
signed 20 defend. and injure the persons
in whose interest they are wildly sem
forth. The fact remains, that II IN,
police can enforce one or two parts OF
the liquor ordinance. they can enforce
the rest and they will have to mee'