Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-02-11
PERTINENT QUERIES
BY AN EX-SAL00NKEEPER

Editor Dcserct News. I VIII submit
o. fcw questions, for the consideration
of AN those Co wham they CONCERN
with due respect TO an parties.
4. Did not the United states gov
eminent. collect from the manufac-
tory and dealers Of spirtuous liquors
$50 Ear as we can ascertain from the
record last year about Sl20 for each
voter iu the United states or total
sum, of nearly S2OO.0O0.OOOY
O. Would not the dealers then have
to- pay many millions Of dollars. 90 the
states. counties. and cities for their
licenses. before they could operator
3. Would they not have TO meet the
actual running expenses. costs of
goods rents, insurance. etc.2
4. Can you name any other line Of
traffic that requires such an outlay OF
money to enable the operator TO get to
the article that is 10 be sold before he
derives a dollar Tor his Efforts and
money!
5. Did not this traffic alone collect
from the people Of tho United States,
something near $4,000, 600 600 last year,
which, II equally divided among tho
voting population Of the United states,
would amount 10 near Sl,400 Tor each
voter?
6. Would not this amount supply
every destitute widow and orphan
with comfortable homes, schooling.
etc, In the United states last year?
T. Does this great waste Of money
enhance the wealth OF the man who
spends this vast sum FOR drink. or
does it create a permanent wealth or
income to the man that spends his
money I'm this way?
sum better be given TO the poor, as it
is not creating "a dollar OF wealth to
the man who gives it In exchange for
drink. but I'm many instances, causes
him TO loose his manhood. his wealth,
his liberty and IN some Instances his
life. leaving destitute widows and or
phans To- mourn his loss?
Q. Is not the laW-maldng department
equally guilty with the dealer for any
loss or disgrace, disaster or the death
OF any one caused by the traffic Of this
article2
TO- DO not the statute laws permit
the traffic % go on in our midst-if
the dealer as able TO pay the license,
so fixed by the legislative body?
H. Who commits the first act or
wrong I'm this natter
r. Is &c not the legislative body?
Why? Well it helps 10 pay our taxes
and run our courts, undoubtedly not
for its moral effects.
49, Does the man commit any more
sin who buys the license than the man
who so makes the law that permits the
sale Of the license for the traffic? Why
is IL permitted at all?
a. Could not the legislative body
prohibit the traffic with the same au-
thCnty that they permit e.?
10. II So would they not be the first
boys to bring before court of equity.
81 they continue the sale OF these
licenses when majority OF the people
is demanding the repeal Of this law?
10. Can you blame the dealer? He
Is I'm the business because It pays,
Would it not appear that our law
making department grants the license
for the same cause?
n. O, well. what would we do with
the boys, or the owners nf the brew
cries. distilleries. bar fixtures, etc2
We have as "a nation encouraged this
system for many years. and a great
deal OF property has accumulated OF
necessity 10 these people. Il would
be ruinCus to them would 10 not, 20
shut them down. is the argument OF
many men. Is there not some way
TO utilize this property along more use
ful lines?
IS Has not the government permit
ted the traffic 20 go on for many years,
and furnished protection to the manu-
facturer from those who would Snug
gle the sale Of it in the country while
the cities have furnished a strong po-
lice force 20 protect the retail dealer
who pays his license TO rustic the