The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-18
People Were Aroused.

FSople were aroused
"Ths people however. were aroused and
petitions began to pour in until over To-
600 names were before US. all pra wing for
statewide prohibition. The house lis
tened to the petitions OF the people and
by almost unanimous vote passed the
measure. Members Of this house laid
aside their own ideas and listened to ard
expressed the overwhelming desire Of
their constituents.
In the presence Of two members of
the house I Immediately went to Senator
kuchler. the chairman Of the senate com
mittee, to whom the bill was referred. and
secured the promise from him of a hear
ing before the committee acted on the
bill. This promise was obtained for a
serious purpose. I had telegraphed Gov
ernor Stubs of Kansas. who sent me the
new law of that state. and 7 wished also
to suggest the ne ference Of this bill to the
people. II the senate thought such action
proper.
THE promise was violated without eX-
PLANTATION either before OF since. and the
bill was killed by adverse report Of the
committee.
"a little later Senator Badger agreed
with me that a reference of the question
to the people would meet every obje ctiOn !.
four other senator's. who had voted
against prohibition. made the same state
mcnt- The senate commuters local Oh
ton bill was amended to meet this
thought. but strange to say. the vote
was delayed nearly a year and q half. I
besought Senator Badger to agree to an
earlier vote. but he declared that he would
consent to no prohibition measure going
into effect earlier than Jan. !. 1911. Con-
WINGED as I am that there was deal, 7
sincerely believe that Senator Badger s
statement was influenced by the power
that was carrying out the terms of the
deal.
What reason can be given for not sub
hitting prohibition to an early vote Of
the people? They have asked Us to give
them prohibition. Failing to do this di-
rectly could we in honor and fairness DO
less than allow them to vote on the ques-
Two days before the legal time for ad-
iournment. the governor sent special
message urging that q local option and
regulation measure be passed. Immediate
Is after he sent TO the senate a bill pro-
viding for state control. regulation and
local option with all towns and cities as
units The senate. weak as IL has been
on this question. ignored the governor s
bill and passed that of the committee, a
much stronger measure. by unanimous
vote. They had stripped it. however. OF
the reference of prohibition to the vote
Of the people. and ha added senator
Kucher's amendment excepting salt Lake
City and Ogden from the county units
1.-THE senate committee bill was con-
ceived and brought forth as a substitute
for a prohibition measure. Even when
weakened by senate amendments 1t con-
Laiieu Stt4tt itSuiatiDi' ~ " i9iVu7-
fore the house took il up for action. the
governor made the astounding request
that q conference committee be appoint
ed-an unprecedented procedure-to draft
a new measure.
THE committee met with the governor
and he gave to them al once measure
which he was willing to sign. There were
earnest men on that committee who had
voted for prohibition and wanted some
thing stronger than the senate commit
tee bill. but they were compelled to &C
ceDt something weaker instead by the