Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-02-02
HEAR THE PEOPLE.

Tho closer the latest proposed bin for
rho regulation Of the saloon traffic is
studied, the moro evident it becomes
that 10 is not what the people generally
want u does not meet the hopes and
cancellations of the great majority %
the constituents of tnc Legislators.
10 does provide, FOR instance. that the
protest OF a majority Of voters in q
district shall Boz sufficient to prevent
Tho State from issuing license in
given case and that looks almost like
local option But 80 is not. As long
as the saloon has o. firm grip upon po.
iitical machines and knows how 20
manipulate party leaders. the liquor
dealers can always thwart the viii Of
the majority of voters and though they
fail in one district they may succeed 200
the other There can Doe no objective
local option law. if the saloon is in "a
position 20 control election machinery.
This alleged local option provision is
good sample Of the entire measure. be-
cause it promises much and gives 30
little.
The provision that saloons must not
be located less than 500 feet from
churches or schools and 30 feet from
theuters is almost ridiculous II the
distance had been made a mile instead
Of 900 and so feet. respectively. thers
would have been some sense TO &c. Most
Of our streets are 1872 feet wide. and the
liquor interests can therefore. IL they
see ht TO do So. open saloon opposite
every theater IN this city and one on
each side OF %, stil closer for the CON
yenienco OF those who are in the habit
Of going out between acts. Gould the
liquor dealers ask for any greater con-
sideration?
A. business hours" an day Is set
apart from a. 10. TO 70 D. ma. This is
an outrage. Whenever regulation Is
attempted in earnest early closing ls
one of the chief features considered. II |
IS generally thought necessary 10 close |
The saloons for the day so early that |
laborers returning from work shall not
De tempted to drop ia and leave their |
days wages there. instead Of bringing |
the money home. Saloons. ia well reg |
ulated cities. are closed az D. m. and |
stili earlier on Saturday, To permit !
them to keep open after every legiti-
mate business IS ended for the day IS |
violation Of an sense OF decency IL |
Is Just what the liquor dealers want.
The clause that prohibits keepers OF
hotels and restaurants "to serve intox-
icating liquors at meals" is a farce.
since it does not make il unlawful for
patrons OF such places 90 bring their
drinks with them. The clause against
treating is equally farcical The one
who wants TO treat crowd has only 10
distribute the money beforehand and
let every one pay for himself lie
cannot order drinks for others and pay
for them, II 10 be consumed on the
premises, but he can stand the treat
just the same
We do not hesitate To- say that n the
saloon interests were 10 inspire a bin
in order to prevent material injury TO
the saloon traffic, they would probably
suggest just some such impossible
and ineffective regulations Tho LIQUOR
traffic has its forces everywhere lined
up 90 prevent effective legislation. and
oppose social reform. Ina its struggle
for existence the saloon knows mo- par
tisanship. II is true 60 200 party It's
candidates are supported solely with
regard 20 their Willingness 90 serve the
traffic interests. Saloon owners ANA
controllers stand together as unit
There are over 100000 of thom in The
country and they never hesitate TO
contribute when funds are needed 10
promote or defeat legislation Every
state is Wen organized. uud even the
press, to its infinite shame boz il said.
IS too often brought under the Influence
Of that power. AZ every state capitol
the agents ana representative Of "a.
saloon are busy ana through their de-
vious methods tho people are betrayed
and wrongod. De- it amy wonder then
~ the people. fully awake 10 thc sItua-
tion, demand relief Thoy win NOT ace
oept stone for bnad nor 20 serpent
instead ot Hsh Thoy demand "a good.
conservative prohibition bm that closes
the saloons and makes the liquor traffic
aa now conducted Illegal They demand
nothing unreasonable.
utNlA nHsrrHars..-4r.