The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-09-11
PROHIBlTORY LAW.

1t has been number OF years since
the Louisiana and other lotteries were
forced to quit our land. The problem
OF their suppression was very siml-
lar to the present-hour problem OF the
suppression Of the traffic in intoXi-
cants. the states were unable to com
bat the lottery influence because leg
islatures were not empowered to reg
ulate interstate business. Local laws
were fruitless because local gamblers
could mail their orders FOR tickets
10 men in other states where prohlb-
tory statutes had not been enacted,
and these tickets could be sent To the
purchasers through the mails. II was
not until congress enacted q law to
prohibit the mailing OF lottery tickets
or orders that the evil was finally up
rooted in this country.
The arguments tlat were offered on
the floor Of congress i'm behalf OF the
lottery interests were stTikingly siml-
lar to tho arguments that are being
offered today on behalf OF the liquor
interests II was claimed that the bar
90 the lottery companies from the
mails (not by fraud order but by stat
utory law would be in effect to con-
liscate their property without com
pensatiBg them. II was further claim
ed that such action would deprive
The owners Of these concerns of part
of their rights as citizens OF the Unit
ed states 1t was even argued that
to put the lotteries out Of business
would be 10 curtail the personal liber-
ties of their patrons. who would there
by be prevented from gambling when
they desired 10 do so, A man. mon.
ey is his own, TO use as he pleaseS,
was the contention
1t Is not difficult 10 establish the par
alel between the lottery aud the whis-
ky arguments In many respects the
ammunition of the defenders Of one
cause has been the ammunition of the
defenders of the other. But this Is
not the important point. PROHIBI-
TORY LAW HAS SUPPRESSED
LOTTERIES. II has suppressed them
in the face OF the fact that the lot
teries in their palmy DAYS had moro
patrons than the saloon has today.
II has suppressed them In spite of a
once well developed almost national
gambling habit-a habit that In more
than one respect resembles the drink
habit Nor is this all The reports
from Havana indicate that the effects
of this habit have not yet beon Grad.
icated in this country. There are still
people here who wish to gamble. Hun
dreds of them are trying to buy Cub
an lottery tickets today, Thousands of
others would gamble if the opportunity
was closer at hand. Yet none Of these
people are gambling or can gamble I'm
this manner The desire is here. but
the lotteries are not Strange though
It may seem, wrongdoing has actually
been PREVENTED. EFFECTIVELY
WIPED OUT, by law.
Now how? BY the employment OF
two methods First by the enactment
of statute to make interstate com
merce in lottery tickets a felony. Sec
ond by the strict enforcement OF that
statute This is the whole secret of
the miracle We have no hesitancy
in saying that the congress of the
United States at this very moment
possesses the power TO perform an
other such miracle with respect 10
the traffic in liquor. We have no hes
itancy In saving further that the time
has arrived when the hall OF congress
s:,phld be made he battle ground of
the prohibltionists. If the lottery
case teaches the doubtcrs a lesson
regarding the possibility OF establish
ing true prohibition. il should also
teach the prohibitionists a lesson in
methods.
Local option" is misnomer II the
cities, counties and states Of the Union
had power to Interfere local option
might be effective But the cities.
counties and states have not that
power and under our unique combIDa-
tion OF local. state and federal sys
tens of government they cannot have
It. Wherefore 1t follows that congress
must do much of our local legislatiDg.
even though In theory congress IS
strictly federal institution This diff
fculty Is fundamental IL is written
into the organic law. There IS no
method of eradcating II without over
turning the constitution. A district
may vote itself dry, but. unaided, |
1t cannot make itself dry. Congress