The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-21

tors There hasn't been any one bribed
by the liquor interests. / firmly believe
that every senator opposed to prohibit
ton is acting conscientiousIy, and !
do not want to go on record as being
seriously opposed to the report of the
committee. There have been serious
charges made, but / do not believe
them. To the credit of the liquor men,
/ Will say that they haven't tried to
bride, me, haven't even suggested to me
that I vote against prohibition. I am
on the best of terms with every sena-
tor, and / am sincere in my position,
as l believe every other senator is in
his. ] merely want to say, Mr.. Presi-
dent. that l am for prohibition, state
wide"
In a few words Senator Miller said
that he agreed with Senator Brinker-
hoff. He thought perhaps the commit
tee had erfed, but that if any error had
been committed it was not intentional.
Senator Badger Explains.
Senator Badger explained briefly the
attitude of the committee. He said
that he ventured to say that no bill in
the legislature had ever been given
more thorough, careful discussion by
any committee than had the Cannon
bill by the senate committee on manu-
AoNNhAtS anu NOitiAfitlCt- ne Sall InaI
though it was not yet a matter of rec
ord, the committee had prepared a local
option bill that he believed was a much
more effective temperance measure
than the Cannon bill. He was Cd
posed, he said, to enacting legislati
as the result of SIX weeks agitation.
Senator Bullen suggested that the ac-
ton of the committee was not without
precedent that a thorough discussion
was had before the house judiciary
committee, and that every member OF
the senate committee had followed
closely those discussions, so that there
was nothing to be gained. by having
any open meetings or further discus
sion before the senate COMMITTEES.
Senator kuchIer Talks.
Senator Kuchler of Weber. chairman
of the committee on manufacturer 2 t,ci
commerce, who led the fight against
the Cannon bill in the senate, followed.
He said in part:
Mr. President and Fellow Senators:
Since my election I have devoted a
great deal of my time to- the study of
the liquor question. 1 have tried TO
find the best methods for lessening the
evils of it and controlling the traffic
in a manner satisfactory to the major
ity of the people, and have concludeN
that local option laws would best solve
the question. Such laws are founded
upon the great principles, ] take it, of
American liberty that the people should
rule, and the minority peacefully abide
by the will of the majority. Under
the provisions of such a law the people
of the state, the district. the county or
the city, whatever unit might be.
chosen, should vote on this matter, and
then intelligently decide the prohibition
question.
But as far as my constituents are
concerned, local option is eliminated
because by petitions and committees
they have said Statewide prohibition
or nothing And right here let me
tell you that a wonderful moral reform
melted by the agitation for prohibi-
ton, is being carried on In Weber coun-
ty. which I know will be far more eff
fective I'm doing away with the evils
of the liquor traffic than ever the pass
ng of a prohibition measure could be.
because. my friends. history is filed
with burning evidence that prohibition
by closing up the open and above board
saloons, does away with the respecta-
BILE. law-abiding element of the liquor
traffic. and in their stead puts a pre-
MUM on blind pigs and lowest dives.
There are enough laws on the statutes,
which. were they enforced, would make
this a glorious state; one who could
proudly open her gates to welcome the
mothers and fathers who would come
bringing their children to grow up and
mature in the blessed community
where there was great reverence for