Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-12-29
THE LATTERDAYsAINTs and TEMPERANCE

i
by Elders John r. Winder, Anthem II.
Lund, f. nj. Lyman, A. W. WINS. and 4
others, Elder Heber J. Grant submit
ted the following resolution. which was
adopted unanimously:
Believing in the word and teachings
of President Joseph Il. Smith, as set
forth this morning on the subject of
Temperance, it is proposed that all the
officers and members OF the Church OF
Jesus Christ OF I1a.tter-day Saints will
do all In their power that can properly
be done with law-makers generally to
have such laws enacted by our Legis-
latrl1e soon to be elected as may be
necessary to close saloons and other
wise decrease the sale Of liquor, and to
enact the Sunday law"
The mover Of the resolution. In de-
nouncing the liquor traffic, said: THE
Lltter-day Saints do not wish to grow
weak and die, but desire to grow strong
and healthy spiritually, morally, and
intellectually; they therefore endorse
the stand taken by the presidency Of
the Church and the apostles in oppos-l
Ing the liquor traffic
EFFECT OF. ACTION UPON LEGIs-
I4ATION.
Mr.. w. IL. johnson, of the United
States Indian Service Department of
the Interior, writing me from Salt Lake
City, says: This movement of the
Mormon Church Is OF enormous import
to our cause. It is no ordinary Church
resolution, for the reason that the Nor
mons vote in q solid block They are
true followers of theii, leaders. Presi-
dent Smith, prophet, seer and revelator.
has come out for Prohibition at the otfi-
cial annual conference of the Church,
and people. Every one Of the twelve
apostles-except two who are abroad
followed suit, and the conference itself
adopted the resolutions unanimously.
This makes absolutely certain either a
strong Local Option Law or a State
Prohibitory Law at the Legislature this
winter. II 1t proves to be a Local
Option Law, that means that immedi-
ately every county in the State will go
dry with three possible exceptions
| 1t goes further. The MorInons are all
most a dominating force in Arizona and
| Idaho. That means a good Local Ops
| ton Law in Idaho this year surely.
as the old parties have agreed to that
| proposal in convention, and this action
| OF the MorTnors cll1lches it. Arizona
| has a poor Local Option Law, which
| will likely be replaced by q good one,
and neither Utah nor Idaho have Local
! Option laws at present"
The Deseret News, the offici,a organ
of the Mormon Church, in supporting
| the action of the Church, says: ut has
been claimed that saloons are necessary
| evils; that alcoholic liquors win always
| be consumed, even in spite of Prohibit
| Dry legislation and that what cannot
be cured must be endured, s.nd, as far
as possible regulated. This is good
philosophy, but 1t is not strictly apple
able to the saloon itself however much
| it may seem to apply to tho mere con-
4 sumption of intoXicants as beverages,
| ms stimulants, or as medicines The
bad saloon IS an unnecessary evil, on
any theory; its existence need not be
i tolerated IL the community really desire
/ its abolition. The resolution places the
14atter-tay Saints on record as favor
ing practical Temperance laws, and
suggests that the officers and members,
| individually rs citizens OF the State,
| do whatever they can properly to pro
mote such legislation. This stand in
favor of closing up the saloons is de-
| nanded by present conditions. and is
| fully justified