Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-24
CHIEF pAUL's STATEMENT,

tChief Of Police paul's statement Il
the News" last night. concerning the
closing Of gambling houses Is satisfac-
tory as far as It goes, but It does not
go far enough II IS frank. inasmuch
as the chief admits the existence OF
that kind of places, and the power OF
the police TO close them, when an ef-
fort is put forth in that direction, but
Il is absolutely inexplicable when II
goes on TO say, "This order Is that all
gambling houses must close and stay
closed tonight, tomorrow night and
Cor some time to come This Is my or
der and FOR THE PRESENT It must
be obeyed on the face OF 1t, this
would seem to mean that the CHIEF, al
though he admits that he has the pow-
or to close the dens. reserves for hlm-
self The right to permit them TO keep
open, whenever he thinks the time has
come to do so safely. Hut the Chief
has no such discretionary powers in
the matter His business Is TO main
tain the law to the utmost OF his abil-
IT'S He has no more discretionary
powers IN that matter, than he has,
were the question TO suffer thieves and
ROBBERS to maintain dens. The Chief
had better make his order permanent
If he VIII do so, he viii find that he VIII
be sustained by the great majority of
citizens, OF all creeds and parties.
The matter Is by no means Indifferent
TO those engaged In legitimate lines Of
business one Illustration may be
owen. Only the other day, work
ingman had received his weeks wages
He was owing his tailor for a suit Of
clothes, and had agreed to pay 50 much
week. But his instalment lila not
materialize. on being asked for an eX-
PLANTATION, he confessed that he had
taken the money and gone 20 pay as
usually, but on the way 20 the tailor,
he had been entlced into Il gambling
den and, OF course, lost every cent he
had. And this is but an everyday
story in cities where gambling houses
are permitted to flourish. That kind
OF vice Is as much detrimental to busi-
ness, as II Is, considering its moral et'
fects, dangerous. The Chief does well,
II he takes a firm stand against the
dens
His statement concerning the Sunday
closing Of saloons Is even less en-
couraging, The force, he says, Is too
limited 10 make the closing complete.
That should be remedied, II a fey men
more on the force is all that Is neces-
sary Ne men should be appointed
But tVdoes not seem to be certain that
the enlargement Of the force would
have the desired effect For the Chief
points out, that II Is almost impossible
to secure conviction for that kind Of
law breaking. even when arrests arr
made, There should be some remedy
for this, too. II there is any virtue in
circumstantial evidence.
II It is true that the administrators
OF the law are practically powerless as
regards Illegal liquor selling, It would
seem high time for the people
to take the matter in hand
In some way We believe that
by a determined effort the saloons
can be closed a great deal more firmly
than they are now. Only last Sunday
so we are reliably Informed saloons in
the business center of the city were
wide open, People were seen 10 20
out and in. The hum Of voices was
heard issuing from the barroom and
policemen We're seen In close proxlmi-
ty TO those places. They took no no.
tice Of the matter To them It evil
IDENTIFY was nothing unusual Such
flagrant violation OF the law can be
stopped We have heard II said that
II the low dens were strictly attended
TO, the more respectable places would
tdurt hb Nl'uul'f i'i wv h'fliiI0 bl
these would be glad TO close. as are an
respectable business houses. The plan
would be worth while trying, at all
events.
Somebody has suggested that all sa-
looms be compelled TO keep the blinds
up. and otherwise render the interior
~ the barroom visible from the street
That, II is believed, would have the
effect of closing them. We recommend
the suggestion to the consideration Of
the City Council.
We. too. believe that Salt Lake city
deserves the reputation 1t has for order
and peace. And on that ground We
give voice to the very general senti-
ment that protests against the law
breaking Drunkenness and gambling
are the progenitors Of crime, and UNI
less they are suppressed as far as far
as possible, the offspring will soon be
90 numerous for the good OF even the
cry best reputation.
We hear great deal OF talk re-
ardlng the lmposslbllity Of making sa-
,onmen obey the law. This is sheer
anscnse Tho sole question is are our
ly authorities in earnest in their de-
lie to have the laws enforcedg If
hey are, the Deseret News can point
"a The way that will achieve that end
horty, sharply and suddenly Let the
ny authorities take a leaf out OF the
osk Of she county authorities. Let the