The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-02-06
SALOONS.

ton question and at this writing it looks as if the
forces of corruption have the upper hand 1t Is
plain that the liquor interests caught unsus
pecting and altogether unprepared for the mighty
wave of sentiment for prohibition which swept the
state during the past year. There was prepar-
alton to stem the tide and so the tide was not
stemmed. At the last moment, it is openly asserted
a deal was made by the liquor interests and the
Republican politicians of Salt Lake county to de-
liver the liquor vote to the Republican party in re-
turn for promise that there should be no leglsla-
ton innical to their interests. The story seems
reasonable enough. and indicates the desperation in
which the saloon element found itself at the last
moment
If the bill providing for prohibition should pass,
it is presumed that the liquor interests will not
obey the statute 1t is the open boast that In other
prohibition states they do not that prohibition does
not prohibit But the fact remains that, though
the liquor interests telling with great gee OF
the great increase in drunkenness in prohibition
states. consequent doubt upon the increased con-
sumption of their wares, they are one and all lined
up against their best friend-prohlbltlon. 1t is
hard to explain this seeming unreasonable attitude
unless it be upon the hypothesis that the liquor IN
terests lie when they tell of the increased consump-
ton in states under prohibition law. Otherwise
they would welcome legislation intended to outlaw
their business.
Although the assertion that the liquor interests
made deal at the last election has not been
proved, it has been made often and never 10 our
knowledge denied by those interested in the matter
that it is generally believed If such is the case
that very action, although it may succeed i'll tenn
porarily defeating the expressed will of the people
of this state, will ultimately react and bring its
just reward. For the will of the people cannot be
defeated by selling the people out. Such tactics
may win temporary victories, but the will of the
people must triumph or the republic must fail.
Distinguished from the methods of fighting the
prohibitionists in Utah arc the methods of the
National Model License league an organization of
the liquor interests to promote the interests of their
business That organization recently held its sec
ond annual convention, and adopted resolutions
which prove the members of that body have seen
the writing OH the wall They have come to the
conclusion, if we are to judge by the resolutions
passed by that body, that the saloonkeepers, brew
ers distillers and wholesale and retail dealers in
liquors must either regulate their business to meet
an enlightened demand be outawed in great
many states. The National Model License league
even goes so far to resolve i'll favor of some OF
the tenets of the extreme prohibtionsts 1t wants
every man. who becomes intoxicated; arrested and
punished. 1t recommends forfeiture of license for
violation of the regulations of the liquor law; local
option by townships and precincts, and the limita-
ton of the number of saloons to for each 500
of population.
These proposals. if they had been made several
years ago and carried into effect, would have just
about settled the liquor question in most communl-
ties The growth of the prohibition sentiment is a
result of many abuses of the business which have
provoked public sentiment beyond endurance The
saloons have not obeyed the laws; they keep open
after legal hours and on Sundays; they sell to
minors; they conduct gambling rooms in connec-
ton: they have interfered in politics. purchasing
immunity by contributions to the leading politicians
and parties; they have adulterated their products
and made it impossible for drinkers to get pure
drinks in their places of business. The people have
seen the saloons increase in numbers. and degener-
ate into places of vile resort they have seen the
brewers, under the fierce competition which has
grown up in the business. establish and maintain sa-
looms in the residential sections of cities; they
have seen the saloon c0ntamInate the schools and
even the churches by their presence; the resorts
away from the cities where the people could go to
enjoy day in the summer become mere beer gar
lens dance halls established where young men and
girls may be taught to drink. The people have
seen all this, and more and they have come to the
conclusion that the saloon will not be regulated.
and have resolved to abolish the whole business.
Public sentiment is aroused, and all the cunning
and political chicanery which the saloon men can
BRING to bear cannot defeat the purpose of the
people to end the whole bad business.
The demand for prohibition may be defeated this
'ear but all the forces of the liquor men will not
stem the tide which has set in against them North,
outh, east and west, the movement for prohibition
gains strength. The methods of the National Model
License league indicate that portion of the liquor
nen have understanding of the widespread sem
iment against the saloon at present conducted
md seek to stem the current by adopting few reg