The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-02-22

Now that the Cannon state-w pro
hibition bill. which made such loud
detonation In the lower house, has
been relegated to the morgue of the
legislature by the senate, attention is
turned toward the substitute bill
submitted Saturday by the majority OF
the committee on commerce and manu-
factures. in the upper branch of the
legislature.
For forty-one days the legislature OF
Utah has been disturbed In all of It's
qualifications by the liquor question.
To drink or not to drink, has been the
all-absorbing topic. And IL we do
drink, to what extent, when, where
and how?
Senator Badger. one Of the mem
bers of the commerce and manufac-
lures committee. and an ayowed ad-
vocate of prohibition, proclaims his
fair-mindcdness when he says that
prohibition, foisted upon the people
Of Utah In the precIpitate manner In
volved by the Cannon bill. is unjust,
unwise and un-American.
IAN important matter of this kind"
he says, should be submitted to the
people Of this state to be voted upon
al a general election 1t is true that
we have received numerous petitions
with thousands OF signatures attached,
praying that the legislature during It's
present session shall pass a prohiDi-
tion bill. We have not had the time
10 ascertain whether all of those who
signed these documents are voters.
The saloon men of Utah are, like those
OF other commonwealths, operating
primarily under the permission OF the
federal government. which authorizes
the manufacture and sale of intoXi-
cants. These men have immense sums
of money Invested for that purpose In
this state, 1t would not smack OF
either good sense or justice. to obliter
ate their private fortunes or pros
meets, unless It be the will of the ma
jority. so expressed by their ballots.
The expressions Of mass meetings and
petitions do not constitute the true
remedy In this case"
From opinions expressed by leaders
of both sides In the senate, 1t is likely
that the substitute Regulation" bill
Will pass that branch Of the legisla-
ture. But It's fate in the house Is
problematical, inasmuch as that body
has been so emphatic IN its clamor
for prohibition, pure and simple. Their
attitude In the matter would indicate
that they are In no mood for COM
promise. II is said. however, that Mr..
Cannon may not be averse to giving
away a point or two, in order to pave
the way for the success of his idea
later on. and so 1t might happen that
when the senate substitute measure
reaches the house, Il VIII be accepted
by that body.
The substitute Regulation" meas
ure In It's present wording, is about as
near prohibition as can be reached.
without getting the real thing. 1t
surrounds the liquor traffic with stjm
restrictions. which. II minutely OBJ
served and enforced. will put the sa-
loon business and the indulgence OF
the patrons upon basis never before !
known In this state, or In the west.
Statements made Saturday evening.
after the adjournment Of the senate
by members OF that body. were to the
effect that the committee on com-
merce and manufactures would likely
add clause to the Regulation" bill,
providing for county unit local option,
to be decided at the next general cleo
tlon by the voters Of Utah.
Senator Hulaniski has remained
staunch against prohibition, declaring
that the property interests OF a NUM-
Der OF his constituents would be para
lyzed If such measure were passed
al this time. Furthermore, he Is
strongly ayerse TO any action being
taken on the liquor business by the
feature embodied In any OF the politi
cal platforms of the last campaign
Senator Kuchler's stand in the mat
ter Is well defined by his refusal, as
chairman Of the commerce and manu-
factures committee, to approve the
Regulation" bill. He was made the
target in Saturdays debate OF some
rather acrimonious remarks by Sena.
tor Wilson, the latter squabbling over
the liquor question for some time, in
an attempt to delay action in the sen
ate on the Cannon bill. Kuchler re.
NAMED cool under the rambling re
marks Of the member from Wasatch.
except at such times when Wilson
oyer-stepped the mark of parliamen-
tary ethics. when the Ogden man hal
President Gardner tell Wilson where
he was at.
Between now and the next sitting
OF the senate, next Tuesday at 2
o'clock. 1t is expected that Legislators
on both sides of the liquor question
VIII have conferences which may
bring them = some kind of an agree
ment on the Regulation" bill. so
that when 1t reaches the house, the
members Of that branch Will swallow