The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-11-07
APOSTLE M'KAY
is OUTSPOkEN
This Paper Defining His Position the
Present Great Issue Declaring Purpose the
Future-Reers o Heber Scowcrofts Public
Declaration.

Apostle David O. Mckay has sent
the following open letter to the
Standard. called forth by the letter of
IIeber Scowcroft, published on Satur-
day last:
To the Editor of the Standard and to
the Members of the Ogden Better
ment League, and Citizens of
Weber County,
Dear FriendS-ln view of the pub
llcity given to the resignation and
expression of dlScouragement made
bv my esteemed friend and fellow
worker, Mr. Heber Scowcroft chair
man of the executive committee of
the board of trustees, 1t becomes ne
cessa1y to say n word in behalf of
the League,
Upon my return from California,
laet Thursday. I was somewhat sur
prised to find raging such heated
political campaign: but fiery as 1t is.
it cannot generate enough heat TO
consume the ogden Betterment
League; neither can any political
party Swallow ii up In disaster"
The work OF civic betterment in
Ogden and Weber county has only be-
gun. As long as intemperance and
civic unrlghteousness exists In our
city, just so long ought the Better
ment League to remain organized
ready 10 fight such evils In that
organization are men and women who
are unalternbly opposed TO "PrOstitu-
tion, gambling. and the unlawful dis
position of Intoxicating beverages
and tobacco"-meD and women who
have started out ITO secure, and aid
in, the enforcement of the necessary
legislation 10 prohibit the manufac-
ture. sale or other disposition Of in
toxicatlug beverages, to prevent
Sabbath desecration. and generally
to improve and purify the social, NOR
al, and political conditions surround
Ing rs"
| believed in these purposes when
joined the Betterment League,
believe in them today. and urge the
league TO continue TO uphold them.
Thus far the actions of this asso-
citation have been wholly consistent
with these objects. II first attacked
the liquor evil, by petitioning the
mayor and city council to make more
stringent ordinances regulating this
tralllc. The city fathers did not see
fit to adopt the suggestions, because.
said they. THE people are not with
YOU" To convince them that the
better element of the city were with
ess. league members. carried on sue
cessfully q complete canvass of the
town, with the result that the citizens
expressed themselves Overwhelmingly
in favor OF the seven o'clock closing.
and more stringent regulation Of sa-
looms
Before the central committee pre-
scented the report of the result of this
canvass. together with a second petit
tiOn TO the council u do something
TO lessen the evils of the saloon mem
bers who had been appointed to in
Yestigate the gambling question
brought in a report that was acted
on without delay. Then followed the
farclcal prosecution OF the keepers Of
gambling houses.
About that time political rumblings
became frequent. and II was evident
that the question OF temperance
would be made the political issre.
Your trustees debated at considerable
length whether to put an independent
ticket in the field. or fight out the
question within the old party lines.
They decided unanimously to STAY
with the parties and Try TO get both
TO declare for prohibition. Being on.
posed 10 any mans running for the
legislature who was In any way asso.
clatcd, or In sympathy with the liouor
interests. the committee suggested
that efforts be made to get leaeuo
sympathizers out to the primaries
and nominate delegates to the con.
Vention who would stand for prohihl
ton. The Democratic members were
successful, not only In securing suit
able men, bit In securing a party dc
claration as we'll The Republican
members were unsuccessful. throupt
procrastination ana inactivity.
While these, and other leading fea
tureS. were being disposed Of a SO
,rles of meetings was arranged to b,
held under the auspices Of the branch
leagues throughout the county. III,
OBJECT being purely in the interest a
temperance reform These meeting,
we're planned, too, before either no
lltlcal party held n convention. Fy
erything was working successfulI,
When 10, the cry was raised that tht
league was using places Of WORSHIP
lor political purposes. The embare,
OF the church, issued a week or 81
ago. necessitated the postponIng n
these meetings until after the elec
tion.
Now the outlook is simply this an,