Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-02-18
FORMER POLICE OFFICER
TELLS OF SALOON EVIL

Editor Descret News; There has been
SO much said favoriug prohibition as
] opposed 20 our present or prospective
regulation measures that it may seem
superHuous for me 10 write and were
90 not for the fact that I feel that the
/ experiences through which I have
passed have given me more than ordn-
AIRY opportunity 10 witness the effects
ol The saloon and the position they
sustain TO- the law I would not try TO
speak ON This much mootod question.
was police officer for nearly eight
years I'm salt Lake City. g. o.. from
1894 TO 1902. and had excellent oppor-
tunity To- witness the operation Of the
saloon under high tariff law, and say
unhesitatiugly L do not believe "regula-
ton" win accomplish the desired elm
nation Of the evils of the liquor traf-
fc.
The moment a legal standing is given
10 any cvu by legislation or by the
administration OF the law In such "a
way that periodical fines are imposed
that moment are the bars let down
for the expansion and growth Of that
evil This has been eXcmplihed many
| times in the handling of the social
evil" and gambling ia Salt Lake city
] speak of salt Lake City because
know whereof / speak.
The same applies also to tho saloon
question; the traffic if not Illegal is
yet always an evil, and only evil grows
/ out OF 1t. Ask any honest police officer
| how many FIRST class" CD saloons are
/ in salt Lake. and ] am convinced II
answered truthfuIly you could count
| them on your fingers-even the fingers
OF one hand. The rest range all the
way from the border line TO the dis
rcuptabl, dive which disgraces our city
and poIIutes with its pestilential breath
an who come within it's noisome at
mosphere And I venture 70 predict
this graduation VIII always exist where
the saloon Dr. permitted. ] do not Wen
See how there can be any decent stan
dard for the saloon.
The competition is now and long has
been so keen that somc-many, must
resort to other than legitimate means TO
enlarge their receipts. The card ROOM
the pool and billiard room are brought
I'M AS an adjunct 90 stimulate the trade
and in some Instances downright knav-
cry Is enlisted
] arm credibly informed and believe
that I'm some Instances pay checks OF
contractors arc made payable, or az
least arrangements made for their pay
ment at saloons for which the 'poSs
gets a rake off,
] know from cases that have come
under Wy official ooserE atloit l,la1
nav chez are often held az the bar
and en- account kept with the owner
until in many instances an Is used up
for drinks and treating the crowd or
l0afer~ and hangers on who make GER
tain saloons their headquarters ] nave
Bon mind am instance where THIS was
done A miner from one of our adJa-
cent camps came 90 town win MS pay
check something over $50. TO was cash
cd 90 by the obl'gng bartender Who
advanced "a little money and held the
rest subject tn CALL The miner started
ont for "a good time iu the vulgar way
1f sueaking and whom be wound up tho
foIIowIug morning went after ms
moDev-aud Do. Do had dwindled 20 a
f.,y uaItry dollars. ] was asked in to
..ftIs fhe Case Tho YiItuOus Cd bar
tender was highly indignant that "a
police officer should Doe called in-such
"A reflection ou bis honesty was unhear-
able The offending man was roundIy
abused and his 'scuro thrust INTO hls
hand 10 check up with tha remark
tbat be- had been beastly drunk and inn
sisted ou treating everyone who would
drink with him. The charges were for
single drinks. two, three. four etc.
until they came ln punches. He had
treated the house aI often that hi-
"Nad" Dad melted like snowflake
in." Excuse The Nu'EarIiN. hut inc
uguro seams appropriate i1 the oeea-
sIOu
This s not am Isolated aao. 10 hap
DID,"