The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-10-23
CONSIDER THIS CAREFULLY.


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! CONSIDER THIS CAREFULLY.
One of the Proverbs runs thus: He
that judgeth a matter before he hear
eth It. is not wise
That is a particularly good lesson
10 remember when advocating legisla-
ton that is intended to regulate so i'm
portant matter as public morals; and
where any such proposed legislation
has shown itself to be less in practice
than is presumed for it in theory, a
careful hearing OF all sides is doubly
necessary.
Many people who have had the
evils attending the liquor traffic called
to their especial attention have been
led to believe that statewide prohibit
ton means actually effective prohibi-
ton of the evils. without adding 9TH
ers equally Objectionable. In actual
practice. however. it is found that
statewide prohibition not only does
not prohibit. but produces a train of
evils that have debasing effect upon
any community where they exist, es-
pecially among the young people.
In communities where popular SEN
timent gives vigorous support to the
plan adopted, the exclusion Of the
saloon can be made effective; where
\ the popular sentiment does not give
that vigorous support. then prohibition
L. NnaN 4 n
Gus injury. while strict regulation
gives most satisfactory results. It is
a matter OF the people of any partic-
ular political unit meeting the local
conditions thereof.
Statewide prohibition deprives the
people OF such unit of the right OF To-
cal self-government, in that il forces
on them a condition not in accord
with their judgment. and by means OF
a force that does not consider local
needs; whereas. a local option plan
permits the people TO exercise the full
powers OF local self-government, and
to Mt their procedure 10 the necessities
OF the situation.
Here is something that voters should
consider carefully: Salt Lake City has
one-fourth Of the population Of the
state: II has many thousands OF chill
dren IN public schools; It has many
other thousands OF young people en-
gagged in various employments: 1t is
center OF schools TO which students
come from various parts OF the state,
both for secular and church educa-
ton; 1t has many thousands OF wage
earners whose families depend upon
the daily employment OF those me-
chanics and laborers. II Is conceded
by all that in Salt Lake City state
wide prohibition cannot be made to
prohibit. but that under It the I'M
regulated dive and grogshop win
flourish.
Statewide prohibition. providing, as
1t does. for no permission OF the liquor
trafic. in theory. cuts out all possible
regulation OF the business. It removes
from Salt Lake city all regulation Of
the traffic. either state or municipal.
and exposes the people to all the evils
and degradation OF the unlawful whis-
ky dispensary-th vilest Of crime
runs riot.
The Democratic plan OF statewide
prohibition. even II II could be put into
eject. would absolutely deprive Salt
Lake City OF all regulation OF the
liquor trafic. and would impose upon
this city what Senator Smoot in his
speech at Ogden designated as "dens.
dives and speakeasies that are a dam
nabls curse IN any community or
state AFFLICTED with them"
Would not such an imposition be
an enemy TO temperance and temper
ance workers? IL certainly would. and
to an alarming extent II follows, too,
that under present conditions state
wide prohibition. and the informed ad-
vocates OF statewide prohibition, are
actual enemies to temperance.
Give a hearing TO the whole matter,
and you will find that 10 be the stu
alton.
What right has anybody. in the
name OF morality. or OF the home. or
Of common fairness. to crowd upon
Salt Lake City the dens, dives and
speakeasies that Senator SmOot ftly
characteriezs as a "damnable curse. :"
and leave the city helpless to regulate
what it cannot obliterate?
Are not the people Of Salt Lake City