The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-07-11
utah COUNTY IS
FOR PROHIBITION
Convention Is Held in Provo at
Which the Matter Is
Discussed.
LAW UPON THE SUBJECT
SEEMS A LITTLE MINED
Can Declare for Prohibition,
but Cannot Refuse Licenses
Except for Cause.
to The Tribune.

Special to The Tribune.
PROVO, July 10.-The prohibition
convention, called by the city council
of Provo, convened in the Commercial
clubrooms here today with fnir rep
resentstion from the various cities
throughout the county. The object of
the convention, as stated in the call,
is to secure uniform legislation on the
prohibition question in all of the cities
in the county.
The meeting was called to order by
Mayor Charles F. Decker and the fol-
lowing temporary officers we're elected:
Mayor James Gardner Of American
Fork, chairman; J. NJ. Jensen OF Provo,
secretary.
Mayor Gardner said he was strongly
in favor OF prohibition and stated that
the American Fork city council had IN"
structed its delegates to vote for pro-
hibition and he personally was ANXIOUS
10 do all in his power for tho cause.
County Attorney Jacob Evans gave
the law as applied to cities and coun-
ties as to their power to grant or re-
fuse TO grant licenses for the sale OF
liquors. He said there WAS no question
but that cities and towns had the power
TO prohibit, but according to sections
l242 and 1918 and other sections of
the revised statutes. the county had no
authority TO prohibit the sale OF liquor;
that the law only provided for the
power 70 grant licenses and regulate the
traffic. The board of county commIs'
Soners had the right to refuse license
for good cause, but not for any sentl-
ment there might be in the matter
Decision Is Cited.
Mr Evans read from Utah supreme
court decision in the case of Logan city
VS. Buck, in which the defendant Buck
had violated the provisions of city
prohibition ordinance. The decision
held that the city, under IFS charter,
had no right to enact prohibition lcgis-
Iation. The counties were in the same
position now as Logan city was then.
As 10 the right of the county commits,
sioncrs 10 refuse u license for good
cause. as explained by Mr., Evans, this
does not give the commissioners power
TO arbitrarily refuse license Just be
causo the lority of tho people want
ed it,
CITY Attorney d, IL. Thomas stated
that it was his opinion the supreme
fOuIs NOulu ubl tbiHptl Iut tpIlItiS
soners 10 grant Il license If mandamus
proceedings were brought to compel
Them 80 DO so.
Committees We're appointed on pcrma-
ncut organization and order of business.
There were seven cities represented in
Inc convention and the general opIn-
ION is that prohibition will prevail In
most OF the cities this fall.
Al the afternoon session the TEN
porary organization was made .pcrma
nenJ. The committee recommended that
temperance league be organized and
the following resolutions were adopted
Resolved, That we recommend that all
cities and towns in Utah county pass q
Uniform prohibition ordinance. TO take
effect January ], 1910. and that for the
purpose OF drafting such uniform legis-
iation meeting be held at the Prove
Commercial Club rooms, Provo City
Utah. at Ia a. nI., August To- 1909, nj
which meeting one or more rcprcScn Ia
lives from each city council and board bC
invited to attend and that a copy o.
this resolution he mailed by the secre-
tnry of this convention, postage pre-
paid. to the recorder OF each city and
Resolved. That We request the county
commissioners TO support this movement
by not granting liquor licenses after De.
cember 81. 1909,
The report of the committee on ordc
of business recommended the organiza
ton of temperance league, which wa
rejected, rs the matter was not embod
led in he call