Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-09-22

Descret News viii be found the de-
clarntlons made by The two opposing
parties previous to the last municipal
election. These were crowded out Of
cur Saturday edition. The candidates
on either side stood pledged to the sup
toSt OF their platform, Public sentl-
ment has been gradually working up
10 a high pitch Of Indignation, at the
utter lack Of interest on this question
exhibited by the executive department
C the city, or as 1t is viewed by many.
the open defiance Of the wishes Of the
bubllc and violation Of the pledges
made. resulting In the present wide
open conditions and the taet supper;
given to gambling and other vices. VIII
anything be done towards the suppress
lion or restriction Of these notorious
evils?
Requests have been made To-
this paper to publish the names
Of frequenters of the gambling holes
and other places which are under the
ban OF the law. We do not think II
wise at present 20 comply with these
demands. We do not wish to blast the
reputation or injure the prospects of
young men, who have commenced to
tread the downward road by wasting
their time and throwing away their
money and injurlng their health at the
gaming table, II would De better in our
opinion, TO inform their parents or in
innate friends Of the course they are
pursuing, with view 20 their reclama-
ton, It will depend upon their future
actions what steps viii be taken In their
cases. Respectable firms viii not en-
ploy persons OF either sex who have
contracted the gambling habit and per-
sist IN It's indulgence. They are not TO
be trusted. The temptation to risk
their earnings when once It takes a
hold upon them, often leads to embez-
element, disgrace and ruin. They should
take warning IN time. and flee from
those haunts Of evil as from pestil-
ence.
The responsibility for the existence Of
these open gambling holes rests with
the executive department of this city.
That they can be closed up has been
fully demonstrated in times past. The
story that this is impossible Is an lmpu-
dentfalsehood. The systembf sham fines
now adopted is transparent fraud. 1t
is really license disguised. and the
disguise Is so thin that no one is de-
ceived by 1t. II Is a virtual barter be-
tween the police department and the
professional gamblers. 1t is OF no use
to pretend to the contrary. If these
traps to catch the feet OF our youth,
and to ensnare the working man and
take from him the wages which he
should carry home for the benefit Of his
family, are really as claimed "a neces-
sary evil" let the hypocrisy practlced
concerning them be dropped, and let
the ordinances OF the city be so framed
that they can be recognized. licensed
and regulated openly. in the same way
as the liquor traffic Is made legitimate
business.
Meanwhile, let the law be executed.
Let the ordinances be enforced. Let
-. a
honored and fulfilled. The step taken as
TO the Sunday liquor traffic Is in the
right direction, Follow It up as to other
evils which are much greater and of
more moment to soolety, and give US
some show OF decency as to Official
promises and sworn duties, or there will
be something doing in that direction
from another source"