Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-07-26
REV. j. CHALLEN SMITH
ON PROHIBITION THEME

i . b a i
The Rev.SJ, Challen Smith. pastor of
the First Congregational church in
| Provo, writes upon the subject of pro-
| hibition sentiment to the News" as
| follows: 5
i To the Editor of the Deseret News:
Dear Sir--In the Inter- Mountain Re-
| publican Of July 10. 1909, was an edi-
torial under the caption OF "Prohibi-
tion Activity. In reply to that
wrote a letter asking that it be pub
lished. This the Republican refused
! to Cor at least did noD publish. Here is
what l said:
Il You (Republican) say Spring
| ville's experience is fairly a case in
point In spite Of a very honest eff
fort on the part of the people, the SELL
stopped.fD
Granted that it is not, what does
your argument mean? DO you mean
| THAT IL they had license law, the
I|selling of liquor would have been
stopped q That is what you imply.
"Prohihitionists do not claim for
their method the absolute stopping Of
liquor selling, any more chan you (Re-
publican) claim that the law against
harlotry prevents the crime absolutely.
What they do claim is, however, that
their method nlinimizes the traffic more
than any other known method found
up to this time.
''If YOU (Rapublican) deny this pro-
position, let me show you where you
put the good people of springvllle.
They have, I understand, had prohibit
ton for 20 years. In all that time the
cause has been supported by the church
people OF all denomina tions. 1t has
been opposed by the liquor people, the
buns, and q few newspapers. Twenty
years is a long time, long enough GER
tainly to wake up. If prohibition has
not been for Springrille the best meth
od3of dealing with the liquor evil. why
have the good people held to it so long,
Z If more liquor is sold there under pro-
hibition than under license Cand the
people living there must be the judges,
or very great tiupes. Which horn of
the dilemma will you take? Again and
again the liquor interests have tried
to have the prohibition rule rescinded
and the license system installed. 1t
has been up before the people in cleo
ton, and by the people supported In
true American fashion: and the ma
jority are satisfied. It is strange that
the church people and the best people
are for prohibition in Sprngville, IL
prohibition to their way of thinking, Is
not the best method of dealing with
the liquor evil! You (Repuhlican) make
them either morally reprobates or
fools. which?
"2. Again you Republican, say THE
practical trouble lies in the fact that
no man likes to have another dictate
to him. And there is reason for the
objection Did you G3epublican) use
this argument when You opposed the
.stockade?' Doubtless those who sup
,,1rt ,i hat TIL psfi
like to have another dictate to them,
But you were very strong in debating
to them.
You (Republican) say, THE individ-
ual must have. power to do wrong, or
there will be no merit in doing right,
etc. Apply this argument again to the
stockade,' to Harry Thaw or to any
other crime. 1t is not case of re-
forming the individual, it is a case of
protecting society
Again You (Republican) e say We
believe that the people Of Utah are
capable of lf-governnent, etc DO
You mean to say that If the state of
Utah enacts a prohibition liquor law,
its people will cease to be capable ipsof
.facto Of self-govelnInent? We have
q prohibitory law against harlotry. Are
the people therefore incapable OF self
And do the people on that |
Tie +eIllDT6S De-
cause they are prohibited to commit |
this crime? Your argument says so; 1t |
Implies too much; it means destruction
of all law. In order to make the mob
lest characters those who rule |
themselves (as you saw, you would |
do away with law; for. law is restrict !
i've, prohbitory in me way or sanUther
One might expect the sots, the liber-
tines, the lewd, the thieves. the mur-
derers, and al criminals, to use such |
sophistry but hardly self-respecting |
newspaper Of the twentieth century,
]. Challen Smith,
Ed. News'-'The above letter Is made |
the basis Of an editorial In the Repub- /
lican July "a, 1909. 1t is this letter
which the Republican says reveals the
fact that l think a prohibition law
which will not be obeyed and which
cannot be enforced. is the nearest So
iety can get.to conulering the Demon
RumH' This is not playing fair
Why did he not give me a Square
dealo" Why did he not publish my
letter? He says he does not want to
be discourteous." 1t is always dis
courteous to take an unfair advantage
and especially to make one say some
thing one did not say.
Yours truly. j. CHALLEN SMITH
II