The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-10
PROHIBITION IS
DECLARED TO Be
UTTERLY FUTILE
Samuel NeWhouSe Regards the
Movement as Serious Me-
mace to Business.
0EPL0RES REVIVAL OF
BITTERNESS AND STRIFE
BELIEVES TEMPERANCE WILL
BEST BE FURTHERED BY
REGULATION.

To The Salt Lake Herald:
I have been asked for an expression in
reference to the proposed prohibition law
now pending in the legislature. 1 an
swer that J sincerely hope such a law
viii not be passed. We ali recognize the
evil of intempersnCe. and I think We
would al be glad to find some effective
cure for it. If prohibition will be such 2
cure, then We should have prohibition.
It is barely a fortnight since the dis
cussion Of the Law seriously began, but
in that short time IL seems to have been
productive Of great unrest in Utah and
to have been the cause OF community con-
tentiOn which does not argue well FOR the
progress OF the city and state.
Ever since 7 came TO Utah and all the
while 1 have been investing in Salt Lake
ana doing what could TO show my con
fidenCe in her future 7 have been unzl-
tersbly opposed to local contentious, and
DESTROYS in every way possible to fur
Their community peace. For more than q
year I have believed that the differences
Whicn long made this state the scene OF
conflict over religious opinion were rapid
" passing away, and that We were fair
Is entering upon an epoch Of local har-
mony Of thought and purpose, which
with our marvellous resources. would make
this city one Of great Importance. 1t
indeed seems unfortunate that now, for
another and new reason, III feeling and
unrest are to be engendered-
FutiIIty Of ProhIbitory Laws.
For many reasons I am opposed to q
prohiuitOry law for Utah. ] grew I'D un~
der law that sought the same end and
1 know how much bitterness it provoked
and how utterly it failed in my home
place. I have Travelled much in prohibi-
ton and local option states and have had
ample evidence Of the utter futility OF
prohibitOry laws.
The principal objections to them are
that they infringe upon the liberty OF
the individual and awaken resentment IN
his breast. He QuaTrels with the inva-
sion Of what he regards as his personal
rights. Laws that do not appeal to the
reason Of the people and to which they
are not committed b. sound judgment and
the spirit Of Justice never have been and
never viii Be effectively enforced You
cannot iegislate a man into heaven, nor
can you BY law effectively take away
from him the right TO be free moral
agent in matters personal TO himself and
which do not affect the rights OF prop
erty Of others. For these and many
other reasons am opposed to sunptu-
airy and drastic laws Of this character. II
is common information among the vel
informed that prohibition does not pro-
hibit; that il does not materially dimin-
ish the consumption OF use OF alcoholic
liquors: that prohibitionists and drunk
ards alike evade the law, that il encour-
ages disrespect for all Law. ana has pro
It makes hypocrites- ft reduces the quail
ity Of liquors consumed and transfers
their sale from the open TO dark places
brothels. cellars and other hidden places
to which the young are led through curl
osity. and where they are debssed and
their morals destroyed. tt makes sots
of moderate drinkers. and hurries the
hsbitusl drunkard to his grave
Favors Careful Regulation.
Total abstinence is not the test Of teni-
persnce. The great majority Of people
are temperate, and. when inclination
prompts, take q glass Of wine or beer.
1t is a mistake to assume that those
who desire the right to exercise their lib
erty in respect to what they shall drink
are not for temperance
Ny thought is that the cause Of temper
ance will best be furthered by well con-
sidered regulation laws, wen enforced,
Regulation. to my mind Il the remedy
not prohibition. Calm consideration Of
the practical effect Of prohibition In
states where IT has been tTied-not hys-
tericai demands what We want. The
legislators cannot in justice to their Oaths
be swayed from enscting laws which hu-
man experience and calm judgment die
tate. by the opportunities and implorings
Of the radical, dashed into q craze BY
sentfmentalism Prohibition laws have
been most disastrous to the material
progress OF communities where tber have
been tried. They measure the conserv-
atism Of communities and are signs o.
bysteris. which fTiEhtens away capital
and the homesseker.
I have many investments IN Salt Lake.
/ have in contemplation the making OF
many more Even should a prohibitorv
law be passed. and I personally were will
ing 10 20 forward 7 have already been
advised By my associates. who are tax
ing fright at the agitation OF this ques-
ton that If such q law be passed they
will not continue with me IN the carrying
out Of my plans
Salt Lake is the heart Of Utah. II its
beats are regular and strong, the energies
there developed will course through the
veins Of the state and be felt in every
portion. IN my opinion a prOhibitory la~
would react against Salt Lake and would
retard general state development. At
tempted prohibition IN this country IS
Continued on Page 3.