The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-08
THE SALOON IN POLITICS.

What pitiful screecb il was that
the Smoot organ set up yesterday morn
ing in behalf of the liquor dealers
"Please, good American city admins
tration, don t reduce the excessive mum.
Der of saloons in this city. Don t pre-
vent the liquor interests from being "A
factor in political affairs here. for we
need that force to yoke up with the
controls we have for political pur
poses.' That was the real meaning
of the plea, though not the words used
III putting it forth. The very fact that
the liquor interests are disposed to en-.
ter into corrupt combines with the Fed
eral bunch is sufficient reason why the
number of saloons should be reduced.
The fewer we have the better. The
people Of this State, and county. and
city, do not desire to have the saloons
in politics. They do not wish to have
their public affairs run IL the liquor
interests. They do not wish to have
such lax administration, such ineffective
supervision Of the saloons as will al.
low the saloonmen TO defy tho law
aud degrade the electorate OF this State
into mere echo of The wants Of the
liquor men But with the triumph Of
the saloon in politics, the rule Of law
lessness begins.
If the liquor men of this region insist
upon going into politics, then it will be
the duty of good citizens to see that
the forces OF that influence are reduced
rs much as possible. IT is not alone be-
cause of the revolt in everyone 'S mind
against being ruled by hat influence.
but because the people do not want any
malign and cStrancous Influences. espe
cially when exercised III secret comb,ues
us the liquor political influence always
is exercised. to interfere with their
just and right control Of their own pub
lie affairs.
The saloon men by going into poll
tics and by making themselves one
with the corrupt Federal bnucb. com.
pei those who have the public inter
ests at heart To see hat ihs evil factor
in The combine is matlc aS weak as pos
sible. The fewer saloous the better,
and the better aud strictcr the regu.
latiou the more the public will ap-
prove.
This 10 not matter of prohibition.
but il is matter that will perhaps
prohibition. For if the liquor element
is reduced to It's minimum. if il is strict
" regulated, if 1T conforms to law and
ordinances, then It's evils arc reduced
10 the lowest limits.
In the granting Of llcelfScs, the city
council has complete freedom of act ion.
1t is not obliged 10 grant Il license TO
ANYBODY. No one is entitled 10 demand
IL license, and least of all is any one
entitled to demand II license ta make
au evil combine bigger in politics, SO
that it can undertake to control cleo
tons. The liquor element should not
undertake to protrudc itself into the
dominance of public affairs. TO have
the community under control Of the
liquor men would be miserable ser
vitudc that would cause such revolt
among the people Us would wipe out
the liquor interests altogether.
The path of duty is plain and
straight. The liquor activities in cleo
tions must be suppressed. The people
must be let alone, and not he offended
by the obtrusion of the lower clements
of society. When those elements com.
bipe for the ruling of the community
and lowering Of the moral standards
Of the people, then it is time to take
immediate and energetic action.
There nrc too many saloons in Salt
Lake City. The number should be re-
duccd. Those that are unworthy, those