The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-01-27
SMASH MACHINE
IS ONLY REMEDY
Provo Citizen Says Great Deal
of Agitation About Prohibi-
ton Is FarcicaI.
SAME GAME IN TWO YEARS
SOLE HOPE is TO THROW OFF
YOKE.

To The Salt Lake Herald.
The agitation for prohibition legislation
now disturbing the state Is almost pitt
fui. because Of its futiiity. All these
meetings and monster petitions are not
for the purpose Of revealing to the legss-
lature some new discovery of the peoples
position Oh the liquor question. The leeis-
lators know what that is in spite of the
fact that efforts were made in many coun-
ties. and In some of them successful eff
iorts, 10 Prevent an expression in the
county. convention platform instructing
the legislative nominees in favor of pro-
nlDltlon The meetings and petitions are
for the purpose (where there Is any pur-
pose back of them at all except to reg
lister the sentiment of the people against
the liquor traffic. of inducing the iegis-
iature to set itself up in rebellion against
its Greater.
Named by Machine.
Il is not likely nor reasonable to sup
pose that the legislature will do this 1t
would not be fair on its mart TO do il.
The legislators know that, with few ex-
cepuons. they were nominated because
they were wanted by the Republican ma
chime. or were acceptable TO il. and that
they could not otherwise have been NOM
mated They, too. know that the machine
does not want prohibition: that a deal
between the machine and the liquor in
terests has been made by which prohi-
bition legislation is to be deferred for
TWO years. and that the machine intends
10 1--we up to the contract as 1t ought TO
90. That the machine depends upon the
legislature which Il has created to en-
able Il to i've up TO its promise, most of
the legislators have also found out. and
they viii not aud should not. dissppoint
the machine
And the people deserve no sympathy.
except for permitting the political rights
and powers vested in them to be given
into the hands Of a few. If the legisIa-
tors felt they we're Under obligation to
the people for their election. and DEPEND
ent upon them for reelection. there would
be no need OF petitions. The will of the
masters 0he people, would be carried out
willingly. as Will the viii of the master
dhe machinel now.
Throw Of Yoke.
There is only one way in which the
present agitation can be of use. and that
Is If the disappointment of the people
which they oesnrye-wiii rouse them suf-
fCienuy to throw off the yoke of the ma
chine, and cause them to hereafter go into
primaries and conventions and nominate
men collected by themselves to carry out
their will and not selected to carry out
the viii of a machine, for legislative and
ather office. but especially legislative Frt
il Is very doubtful that this will be re-
membered or acted upon in two years
from now. The people are fOrgetfuI, and
the machine at that time will probably
have some great paramount object for
the good of the people which cannot be
carried through without its aid %. and
the people syili be asked to keep It in
operation. and they will probably do it.
Tt will then be in order to encourage and
assist in another prohibition movement.
and the machine can go TO the liquor
dealers and say:
The prohibition sentiment is. If pos
sible. stronger this year than two years
ago. and 1t will take more money TO pre-
vent unfavorable legislation
And the money will be forthcoming. And
thus the screaming farce. with the pitt
fui stupidity of the people in delegatinE
their rights and duties to a few bosses
as the motive. will again be enacted.
After a while, when the people want
any reform. they will do as they have
done elsewhere (for no reform has ever
been carried through by a machine any
wherel-smash the machine and exercise
the political power belonging to them for
the carrying out of their will
Provo. Jan. Is SIDNEY CARTON.