Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-09-01
STAMP OUT THE EVIL.

4 morning contemporary Justly and
vigorously protests against the circulo-
ton Of llbelous cards designed TO bring
oboquy upon the Mormon people and
thus lniure the entire community
These disgusting and misleading pic
lures are Offered for soe at book
stands. In hotels and other places, and
are sent by tourists 10 distant friends,
more perhaps us jokes at the expense
Of the "Mormons' than with Am intent
TO do harm Yet they make an unfa'
yorable impression wherever they So
and tend to Keep up the misunderstood
Ing that exists as to the condition Of
social affairs in Utah
The enlerprisng persons aud firms
that are working to bring b people and
capital from outside the state. find
their efforts ncuualzed TO some extent
at least by publications Of the chamc-
ter referred to They ought to wage a
war against those vine productions and
the post office authorities would be
justified lu the institution of proceed
ings against their transmission through
the mails, Some Of them are obscene
and most Of them are lihellous, os the
term is defined In the law II the deal
ers who sell them cannot be induced to
substitute something decent IN their
place. prosecutions should be entered
for the punishment Of the offenders
II IS refreshing TO hear Of nom
mormon residents standing up for
the real character Of our people and
refutlng the fasehoods that are COM
monty circulated about the old settlers
Of this State. 1t Is surprising to MS
that there are not more OF such In
stances We should think inst all bona
ilde and permanent jewellers IN Utah
would be determined not to allow the
foul and persistent llbels which seciar-
Ian preachers and others utter aod DIS
semlnato. to so unchanenged, to- the
serious detrimcut of the state and
the character OF IT'S inhabitants Lack
Of moral courage and the fear Of being
tainted with favoring the Mormons'
have much to do with that reluctance
to speak the truth and shame the
devil"
Returning to the subject Of the cards
and other publications that are defama-
tory and disgusting, yet are openly cX-
posed for sale. we direct attention to
the provisions against the offence to
he found on page sos Revised Statutes
Of Utah
"a libel Is a malicious defamation,
expressed either by printing. by signs
or pictures on tne like, tending TO black
on the memory of one who IL dead or
to impeach the honesty integrity, vlr-
tue or reputation or publish the natural
defects. OF one who is alive, and thereby
10 expose him TO public hatred, con.
tempt or ridlcule,'
IAN Injurious publication is presumed
10 have been malicious n no justid-
able motive for making it Is shown
''ro sustain a charge OF publishing
a libel II Is not necdful that the words
or things complained OF should have
been read or Seen by another II Ia
enough that the accused knowingly
parted with the immediate custody Of
the libel, under circumstances which
exposed II TO be read or seen by any
other person than himself"
The penalty FOR such libel Is fine
not exceeding a thousand dollars or
imprisonment In the county fail not
exceeding one year Now let the deal
crs In that kind OF Infamous trash be-
warel They had better get rId Of Il
from ,her stock and cease from getting
any more, 40 really decent establish
ment would keen them ON hand. They
are TOO coarse and foul TO be funny.
They can do no good aud are clearly
Intended TO do harm. The self.consutut-
ed promoters Of social morality ought
TO make a rid on those scandalous
publications. and the officers Of the
law would be IN the line Of their duty
II they took measures for their sup.
preston, Our contemporary the Tu.
bune, has done a public service In
drawing attention TO the evll. and we
bf AZ. othora tt.tlf taba et,rg t,,,.,,s1. 80