Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-03-09


moral courage. Tie has proved him-
self true under circumstance where
ono with less determination would have
faItorod and failed There can Doe mo-
eoubt. therefore. that his message to
n legislature on the temperance
question represents his honest couVc-
ton as Co what is bost at the present
time for the people Of Utah. Tho Cow
ernor has frankly stated what Doe con-
elders right and cxpodieut
The message urges tho speedy cn-
nctnent of "a regulation law with o.
local option attachment Whenever.
st says. "sale of alcoholic liquor is per-
90 plain and cnoctivc that the traffic
viii be kept within legitimate bounds
and be under perfect control OF those
officers charged with the enforcement
81 law: and when the people Of any
kocalIty wish o. exclude such traffic
from their neiehborhood they should
b. given the opportunity 90 do so.' This
s. the Governors position And we
have no doubt whatever that he has
arrived at this conclusion after mature
deIihsratiou and conscientious consider
alton OF the question from his point
of View
But, Notwithstanding this there are
two objections which are $50 evident
that the Governor we feel sure, win
pardon the legislators who may feel
Il impossible To- agree with him. and
who are equally conscientious. if they
refuse 20 act on She suggestion made.
The first IS this that no such law
as hc recommends can be enacted
The Governor asks for law that win
keep liquor traffic within Legitimate
bounds That cannot be done. II is
like asking Tor "a law To keep muir
der within Legitimate bounds" In
fact the liquor traffic IS "a traffic DO
the seeds OF murder and am other vices.
It is a traffic in the most effective fer
tnizer of the soil in which am kinds OF
crime take root and grow The traf-
nc itself murders the soul IT ruins
the body, the magnificent temple. In
which the Spirit of God should dwell
There is absolutely no legitimate bouu-
dairy for ID. u is ilegiumute. II is
criminal And an a righteous law can
do Is 10 put the proper brand on it, by
prohibition. as is done on its twin
brother the traffic OF prostitution.
The liquor traffic cannot be regulated
1t respects no law. No matter what
regulations the legislators may invent
they viii be ignored and eyaded. The
liquor interests will spend money TO
elect officers pledged 10 close their eyes
at iniquity Dens Of infamy win be
moro numerous under any kind Of
regulation than under prohibition. be-
cause it is easier to evade a rule than
an absolute interdict You can keen
within legitimate bounds a business
that honestly strives 10 conform 20
your law But when you deal with
business that recognizes no law but
extends Itself on am sides beyond aI
legal boundaries, regulation becomes a
farce, No matter how narrow you
make the boundaries I'm the center Of
the raging ocean OF inlGuity the coast
win be inundated am the same What
YOU need ls strong dixie or prohibit
ton and then "a takes constant watch
fulncss and effort not TO be swallowed
up iu tho advancing tide.
Another objection rs equally evident.
'he l'''i'o Oh IAN nave h't asked TOT
regulation and local option. They have
AsNea TOR Ii'"IniIlo"- lhe members
OF me 'nur'h oi Jesus CHRIST OF Lat
t'fa'y SAINTS nave in Conference
asked for legislation that VIII 'elose
iae saloons. in'l is ih, position OF
The Church members and officers The
people have spoken through petitions
and mass-moetuEs and conventions,
and the Republicans of the state have
expressed their views through one of
The most representative gatherings of
Tho kind ever held m Utah. The people
tnIa commit for naughty D. Oh. mamie