The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-23
COMPLETING A BAD RECORD.

~
Governor Spry's veto of the liquor
regulation measure, commonly knows
as the Badger bill. was anticipated and
predicted in advance. That it was per-
mitted to pass by the machine was
proof Of the final fate it would meet,
because its provisions were obnoxious
to the liquor dealers, and no legislation
which displeased them could possibly
become a law SO long as the governors
veto stood between them and the enact
ment
Further, there is good reason to be-
Ieve that the bill. as finally passed, was
deliberately framed to justify a veto
and enable the Republican machine to
escape responsibility for the failure to
secure any legislation on the subject.
Neither the machine nor the liquor
dealers intended to change conditions
governing the liquor traffic in any es-
sential. Their hope was that the power
to regulate the traffic might be
placed in the hands Of the state author
tiles for use in future political cam
paigns; but they we're unwilling to do
anything offensive to the liquor ele-
ment that might seem like failure to
fulfill the ante-election deal
As it stands now, the machine is in
position to tell the people it wanted
better liquor laws, but the legislature
would not enact the kind of law de-
sired; and it can. with perfect truth,
prove To the liquor dealers that it has
kept faith, prevented hostile legislation
and delivered the goods as agreed.
The veto of the Des MOines bill was
also d foregone conclusion The federal
office holders have played fast and
loose with the friends OF good city gov
eminent from the beginning. Ostensi-
bly, willing to give salt Lake the
change in its administration so earnest
~ demanded by public sentiment, they
were unwilling to do even that much
without Gripping the plan with its no.
torious ripper" bill for the fire and po-
lice departments. The welfare Of the
city is the last thing to be considered
by the machine. and it has evidently
determined that no concession shall be
the power Of the politicians in city
government or permit the administra-
ton of the city's affairs on a business
basis
* x
Spry's refusal TO sign the ripper
fire and police bill is due solely 10 the
storm of criticism il has aroused and |
the certainty that it would be held in
valid if carried into court. 1t was con-
ceived in iniquity and had for its prin-
cipaI object the Capitalization of police
power in the hands of the state ma
chine-a power potent for blackmail i'll
campaigns, offering rich loot in the way
of appointments for political services
rendered. and the more tempting that it
would have enabled the federal bunch
10 punish OF reward such liquor deal
ers and saloonkeepers as II pleased to
nunish or reward, 1t was one of the
net measures of the machine. and its
rejection is the single recognition
shown in this session Of the power of
public sentiment. If it had received
the governors signature, it would in
staptly have galvanized the moribund
american" party into life; and as it
fs the Americans" have been given
the only ammunition through it that
may promise some chance of return
10 power in the city.
x x x
With these measures disposed Of. the
eighth session Of the Utah legislature is |
:. closed incident, closed. that is, 50 far
as its power to injure the state and its
eapital go. but not closed to discussion |
Its record is a permanent and powerful |
argument against the further contin- |
uance IN power of the vicious machine |
that has dominated its action. that sold |
its votes in advance and compI ted its |
bargain OH the exact terms Of the COM |
,,act with the liquor dealers. No effort |
Ga confuse the issue or gloss over the /
record can avail as against the official |
minutes of the two houses; and unless
The people Of the state are hopelessiy |
indifferent 10 wrongs in politics. there /
viii be a new deal before another legs
Isture meets-and it won't be a deal /
with the brewers and liquor dealers,
either.