Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-11-27
SALOONS NOT CLOSED.

Some time ago the "NeWs' called at
tention 10 the fact that practically all
the saloons OF the city We're kept open
on Sunday. In defiance OF law and the
sentiment OF the best citizens. Thou
sands were spending their time and
money In those places during the Sab
hath. Last Saturday the police au-
thorities announced that this condition
would no longer prevail. The saloons
were TO be closed, and the regulations
concerning the liquor traffic were to be
observed. The police know that a word
would be enough to exact compliance
with those regulations But, notwith-
standing the promise made to the pub
", the saloons were not closed last
sunday. AS a rule side entrances or
back doors were open, and those who
wanted to drink had access TO the bars,
as usual.
This suggests the natural question:
what was the real purpose Of the prom
ise. that was given only TO be broken?
IL Is not difficult to see through the
slimsy screen. A school election Is
coming, and decent voters whose sup
port for an assault upon the schools Is
desired, must be deceived into believing
that the requirements Of decency ana
morality are not TO be entirely Ignored.
Representation are being made daily
10 the effect that the schools are In
danger Of falling into tho hands OF
ecclesiastical tyrants. This Is one part
of the gross deception by which II IL
hoped 10 capture votes for the con-
spiracy. Another part Of the deception
n the pretense at reform. There VIII
be no closing OF the saloons on Sun
day. nor any effort to eradicate the
gambling and kindred vices, under tho
regime Of the party now In power.
The revenue OF the illegal traffic IL TOO
large, presumably. for that.
The important question now is this
Would the schools be safe in the hands
OF party manipulators who rely large
~ on the profits Of illegal traffic for
financial support They clamor against
Church power and Church control OF
the schools There is no danger OF
that, and never has been. The Church
does not ask for control over the public
schools. But, suppose this should be
the fact; suppose the Church should
demand TO control the education Of the
children. would not such control, In all
conscience. be more desirable than the
control openly demanded by party
which is IN league with saloons and
houses OF III fameg II seems to us that
no decent citizen can hesitate, IL he
were TO choose between the two. But,
ms we have said, there is no danger OF
Church control of the schools The
Church does not desire any such re-
rponsibilty Let the school election be
non-partisan, and let those who de-
mand church test for eligibility to
the Office OF school trustee, be kept out
~ the schools, as lntolerant. un-Amer-
fcan barbarians.
The manner in which the present city
authorities are dealing with sunday
saloons and Sunday amusement halls
is q fragrant instance Of pledgc-break-
ing. Previous TO the campaign abund-
amt promises were given Of reform and
cleaning up. Many votes were un-
doubtedly obtained because Of those
promises. But they have all been brok-
en-, and there is apparently not the least
intention OF redeemlng the prediction
pledges. And these pledge breakers are
still appealing TO the citizens 10
ally themselves with them. What de-
cent man or woman can respond TO that
appeal2 We are glad to say that even
non-"Mormons" are becoming dis
gusted with the methods by which
that party hopes TO pesp.tuate Its
power and widen It's influence. We do
not SEQ how 1t could be otherwise. a
party that relies on deception and
falsehood for converts and ON the
damnation OF souls for financial sup
port, cannot maintain itself long In a
country with the moral standards that
obtain In this Republic, notwithstand-
tng all weaknesses and shortcomings.