The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-09-26

Here in Utah.
Here in Utah. the Republican partY
stands for that which Is reasonable
and just, and therefore fer the peo-
pies good 1t does not yield to eX-
treme radIcalism, nor bow TO lniquit-
GUS dictation In this stale there has
been agitation regarding the regula'
ton and control OF the liquor traffic.
There have been assertions and ac-
cOsatlcns OF bargain and deals witll
party leaders These charges have
been made by the opposing political
leaders and others with great frce-
dom OF uLtcrance and equal disregard
OF truth. And right here | say that
every assertion and accusation, and
the whole volume of them, charging
such bargains on tho part of the Re
publican party OF it's leaders, is ass
basely false as language can express
IL. no matter who the accuser Is. on
what his creed or politics. | trust
that my language is plain and simple
enough and my statement sufficiently
broad to cover the whole matter. that
it may be clearly and definitely under
stood.
An Advocate Of Temperance.
"As yau all know. | am an
advocate OF temperance he
lieve it, teach 1t. / live IL
81 shall support the plan that will I'm
my Judgment restrict the sale of
liquor to the lowest possible quan.
tity, ] am positive that where the
majority sentiment OF q community
is against the absolute prohibition OF
saloons. 10 try TO abolish them would
be unsuccessful. and instead Of the
saloon we hould have dens. dives and
speak-easies that are damnable
curse in any community OF state af-
flicted with them. \ great deal bet
ter to permit, under this condition.
the liquor traffic. subject to the most
open inspection and definite regula-
tlon and control Ii the sentiment
OF the people of the state respecting
temperance was such that Il majority
OF The people of every town and city
would declare by their votes that they
want no saloons and in communities
where that sentiment is so expressed
there is reason to believe that sue
cess Will attend the closing OF the sa-
looms. but where q majority of the
people are opposed to such a course.
| am positive that prohibition would
be farce as it has proved to he in
most OF the large cities of our cuun-
try.
Local option in Cities.
IT believe that local option should
prevail In cities and towns where
peace officers are elected by the peo-
pie and a time fixed by the legisla-
ture to vote upon the one question
whether licenses for saloons should
be granted or not and that time to be
fixed when no other question is Yot-'
ed on I still further believe that no
license for saloon should be issued
outside Of an Incorporated city or
town under any circumstances. This
will prevent saloons being establish
cd adjoining any city or town as the
authority for Issuing licenses will be
only with city. councils or town
boards and by them only after the
people have voted them that authori-
ty.
Prohibition a Failure. .......
Upon this subject as upon most
others. the experience of others is
valuable aid In guiding our Judgment.
Mere sentiment as TO an ideal condi-
ton is not effective either in enforc-
Ing OF in Judging the operations OF a
law We must deal With facts. The
experience OF other states with state
wide prohibition legislation has pro-
duced one of two results, namely:
Il. Where the prohibitory law has
not been enforced vigorously. the traf-
fic In intoxicating liquors goes on TO
an extent that is demoralizing to the
community. both in its direct result
evitably general disregard for law
which characterizes notoriously lax
enforcement of any particular statute
affecting public morals; or,
"2, Where a rigid enforcement OF
prohibition has been instituted
against the sentiment and VIII OF the
majority of the people OF any particu-
lar community. the traffic has passed
into the hands of morally lower and
coarser persons than otherwise would
be the case, and the back-alleys, blind
tigers, dives and speak easieS. vile
beyond description, combine TO out
wit officers of the law. mislead the
unwary. and debase the general moral
tone of the public.
What Is Desirable in Utah.
Neither of these conditions is de-
sirable In Utah. nor even tolerable. if
prevention Is possible. Shall we have
the dens. the dives, and the speak
castles that are a special curse TO any
community or state afflicted there
with, or Shall we aim to place what
is permitted by the vote of the pco-
pie. the liquor traffic in the hands of
licensed individuals, subject to the
most open inspection, and TO regula-
ton and control?
ITO he made to regulate and con-
troll. regulation must be uniform. II
must be backed by force that
knows no unfair favors and no moral
Iaxitv. This Is as true with regard
To pure food laws. or sanitary regula-
ton, as 10 the liquor traffic. | am
aware OF the point set forth thai
there is a beneficial use al alcoholic
LIQUORS. that these have their lceitl-
mate sphere of necessity IN the arts
and sciences, and in medicine | take
that point into careful consideration.
along with tho others: and where
such use is required. there should be
an open Legitimate way to satisfy the
Requirements without unnecessarily
EXPENSIVE exactious. 1t should be ac-
compllshed by legislative action.
Get Close to the People.
IT believe in uniform regulation
thai gives a complete control as strict
ns the nature of abuses 10 which the
traffic Is permitted; and I'm any town
or cit,, yrhera The peuple do not want.