The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-01-27
JOHN Y. SMITH
Is FORCED OUT
INTO THE OPEN
Continues from Page l

bition movement in Salt Lake and went
over the situation. At this meeting il
was decided that the prohIbitionists move
in a small army on the wavering iegis-
iators. Senator John Y Smith was IN
deTStOOd 10 be a waFering legislator
Against him the small army moved. The
battle was brief and when IT was over
the small army was in ftll retreat and
all doubt that Senator Smith was wa
vering was removed.
The meeting last evening was held in
the parlOrs of the Kenyon hotel. All of
the committee Of thirty were at the meet
ing. Senator John Y. Smith and Repre-
sentatives J. H. WOotton. William L.
Hayes and Charles II. White. ali men,
bers Of the Utah county delegation in the
legislature. we're present. President
Gardner OF the senate and Representative
Bower both Of Utah county, were not at
the meeting.
George n BrimhslL president of the
Brigham Young university of Provo. aud
chairman Of the committee. was chair
man Of the meeting The committee.
through its chairman. presented TO Sena-
tor Smith the opening Of the attack
petitions from the voters Of Utah coun-
~ Containing S259 names. Then there
were speeches by AIr. Brimhall. J. b.
Keller. president Of the Utah stake of
the Mormon church Of Provo. James II.
Clark OF American Fork, president of the
American Fork stake of the Mormon
church: Rev. J. Challen Smith of Provo,
Lafayette HOlbrook. one of the promi-
nent Republican politicians of the state
and one of the Taft electors from Utah.
and others. all urging the members of the
legislature to vote for prohibition.
Representatives W0Otton. Hayes and
| White. all OF whom had previously de-
cIsred themselves to be in favor of pro-
hibition renewed their pledges to vote
for statewide prohibition A resolution
instructpg the members of the legisla-
ture from Utah county to vote for 8
prohibition bill and TO do all In their
Mover % SfIDr1or-t such 4 measure was
unanimously passed
Other Side of Question.
In the face Of all this temperance en-
thusissm Senator Smith, apparently I'M
moved. advised careful consideration of
both sides of the question. asked IL there
were not rights on the other side, sug-
gested that the action favoring prohibit
| ton might be somewhat hasty, and that
a drastic prohibition measure might prove
TO be a financial disaster. He said:
Il am profoundly impressed by your
visit to Salt Lake and by the purpose
which brings you here. / am deeply
grateful for your views on the question
Of the liquor traffic. but il is my belief
that you have obviously only heard the
discussion Of this question ex psrte.
"A great majority of the leading busi-
ness men of salt Lake and other large
cities Of the state are today opposed to
statewide prohibition. They do not view
with approval the practical confiscation
d
property owned by the people engaged in
the liquor traffic.
If it were only the objections of the
brewer. the distiiier and the saloon man
which We were TO encounter. our road 10
action in the matter would be simple.
But the interests Of others are 50 close
| ~ interviewer with those of the men
whose money is invested in the liquor
traffic that the sudden enactment of a
prohibition measure would be financial
calamity to the state
There are thousands of influential
business men of the state who believe
that AT this time the enactment of an
absolute statewide prohibition law ssOuld
be too drastic. but who stand almost To
a man for the correction OF the liquor
| traffic as II is conducted at present
There are thousands of men who in
dulge moderately IN the use of alcoholic
| beverages who do not look with favor
on legislation making their acts Grim
| iusl
1T is from the pointed logic Of this
class of citizens the greatest opposition
to prohibition is encountered.
Il am emphatic in the declaration for
saloon regulation and correction. II. how
ever. the question resolves itself into the
continuation of the liquor business as it
| is at present conducted. or absolute state
I wide prohibition. l will certainly cham
| pion your cause for prohibition"