Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-03-10
BADGER ADMITS HE
IS PROHIBITIONIST
The Only Doubt in His Mind, He
Says, is One Of Its
ExpedIenoy.
QUOTES NEWS CoPIoUsLY
Flood OF Orntory Breaks Loose In the
senate on Substitute Bm
Under Discussion.

Senate Bin las, shorn OF everything
that tincmred Of prohibition an but
came 20 vote In the upper house OF
the legislature after nearly tow hours
Of debate following the closing OF
amendment Offering. The striking out
of section 50, which. II il had been en-
acted into law. would have provided
for an election for state wide prohihi-
ton in June, 1910 was done on motion
~ Mr.. kuchler. seconded by Senator
Nllson and ecquiesced in by Senator
Badger The last two were entirely
friendly to the section, but admitted
that the bill could not pass unless
that portion should be stricken out.
Debate on the bill proper came short
~ before 3 o'clock. Senators Bcuncr
x smith and Stookey speaking brief
Iy against the measure. Senators VIII
son and Badger for IT, Mr. Smith
emphatically stated that he was no
friend 60 liquor, and u he had the
power TO strike a match 20 the last
drop Of it. he wouldn't hesitate 90
minute to do IL. He was opposed TO
prohibition, but ia favor OF local C,l-
ton, with the city as q unit He dId
not believe that Washington county
had the right to dictate 20 Salt Lake
county IN this matter, neither that
Bingham had a right 10 dictate TO Salt
Lake City.
SENATOR WILSON.
Senator Wilson spoke briefly but
strongly in support Of the measure
Had the governor done earlier what
ne has done today. matters would have
been much simplihed' be- declared
The bill as IL now stands Is entirely
with the views OF the governor as ex-
pressed IN the message read to as
TINS morning, namely, a restrictive and
local option measure. While 10 Is not
an that 1 desire By any means, j
shall take an that ! can get when /
can't get all that ] want The propo-
sitlOn VIII go 20 the people, ana they
win provide the remedy"
The speech Of the day came from
AR. Badger the principal supporter OF
the measure. In ire beginning Of his
remarks he was subjected 20 "a cross
IRE Of questions, mainly from Senator
kuchler who accused him OF NacI-
lauOn and a desire 90 do what was
pleasing 10 the house. rather than to
stand upon his convictions Mr.
BADGER replied that he wanted the
house 70 pass the measure. ana To- that
end had Incorporated section 50. but
had stricken the same out because he
had been Informed that a majority of
the senate would not vote for a. The
main paragraphs Of Mir Badgers
speech follow:
SENATOR BADGER.
Mr.. President-the eloquent chairman
OF the recent mass meeting Of prohibi-
ZIONIST Republicans suggested that
members of the present Legislature
might with profit be reminded OF the
words Of Abraahm Lincoln. who. iu
refusing 20 vote for bad legislation In
exchange for votes for his own meas
ure, which he desired very much 70 see
passed, said: You may burn my body
20 ashes and scatter them 10 the winds
OF heaven. you may drag my soul down
10 the regions OF darkness and despair.
% be tormented forever. but you will
never get me 10 support "a measure
which believe 20 be wrong. although
by doing so I may accomplish that
which 1 believe 90 be right"
These words are somewhat grand
eloquent but / like them. and ] trust
that the gentleman who suggested the
quotation, and his friends. win believe
me when I say that they express the
very difficulty that has prevented my
supporting an effort 90 have state
wide prohibition law enacted by the
present legislature ann "a prohfbi-
ZIONIST, and have always been pro-
moitionist In the sense that I have felt
mat prohibition was "a right aim and
an ultimate goal. But il has seemed
20 me that there were questions of the
right time and right means Tor the es-
adjustment Of prohibition that should
Doe carefully considered by wise friends
OF this great reform And IL is he
cause II has seemed 90 me that we
were going too hastily about the mat
Ter and because have felt that tho
means used in forcing the law through
the Legislature were reprehensible and
were subyorsive Of American institu-
lions and ideals and the rights Of cit-
zenship. ! have resisted an effort Oh
do what ] have always hoped would
be accomplished iu "a timely and self.
respecting manner. So that FOR one
] am not offended by the suggestion
that IL H. we'll that legislators hearkeu
% the words Of Lincoln
Let me say again MI President I ann
prohibitonist in conviction. rh,
only doubt In my mind as to prohibition
r. one of expediency-of the righ.
method ~ les establishment and Of th.
time when it should Doe established
A. to time. 7 believe that prohibition
should be- established only after care
Poi and mature consideration boy Tho
people Prohibition is right. but 10 is
practicable only when substantial
majority OF the people recognize that %
IS right and determine after solomul'
Weighing the difficulties surrounding %.
enforcement that II shall hc "a govern.
mental policy THE experience of th,
states that have tried prohibition Is
as ] read their story. that the nc1t 10.
prohibition has only begun when ni