The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-06
LIMIT THE SALOONS!

looms. There are too many saloons In
Salt Lake City. The saloon business
is one which should not be fostered by
hot air methods or by explorations,
That business should be kept out of the
fcrmcnt, out Of politics, and should
be repressed rather than encouraged.
The usual basis of saloons as rcck
oncd in cities of this country is one
saloon to thousand inhabitants, Salt
Lake City might very we'll reduce this
number to the basis of ono saloon to
every fifteen hundred or two thousand
Of population. The business district
here is comparatively restricted, and
the residence district greatly enlarged.
OF course. no one thinks of either put.
ting saloon in n residence district
or allowing any saloon TO be put in any
of those districts. The saloons have
been very properly limited TO the bust
ness part OF the city That is right,
and il ls rule hat should he followed
all the time in dealing with the liquor
business
And limiting The saloons in this man
ncr, which is perfectly proper and
right and according to law and prccc.
deut, 1T is seen at once that there are
too many in the comparatively restrict.
ed business district of this city. Mr.
fernstrom s resolution. submitted In
the Council last Monday evening, is one
that should be favorably considered by
tl,n1
overdone here, and it is time, not only
TO call halt, but to. begin The process
of limitation. Let us have fewer
saloons, with better average of deal
ers and a better quality of goods dealt
out
With these restrictions on the num-
Der of saloons and with the, Topping
off of the dives aud the more dsrepu.
table places where liquor is dealt in
The police would have Il better control
of the saloons, They could he regu-
lated more certainly and thoroughly,
and il would be far easier TO deal with
the better class of saloon keepers than
with the mass where there are such
large numbers, and many Of them men
that have no scruplc or regard for the
law or the public welfare.
On every count, therefore, il is our
Judgment that the Council would do
well TO consider the matter fayorably.
and with the incoming of the new year,
to make a drastic cut in the number
of saloons IN Salt Lake City. We think
this would have good effect in every
way. II would reconcile the public
TO the strict, honest and lawful regu,
latiou of the saloon business, and
would probably do much to qucll the
agitation against saloons as whole.
We are of those who do not believe
that III a city like Salt Lake it would
be altogether practicable to enforce
prohibition. We think that prohibition
is all right in community which is
and is practically unit
for prohibition. But in cosmopolitan
city like Salt Lake, with divergent in
tcrests and so many clashing views, we
are not Of those who think that pro,
hibition can be made actual. But regu-
lation certainly is practicable, and lim-
itation also is practicable. With this
limitation there should be jealous
cooperation on the part of the Off
GERS of the law and of the saloon men
themselves who are granted licenses,
for the suppression of the unlicensed
traffic, We believe this united public
sentiment, supported by the better cle-
ment Of the saloon interests, can be
engaged in behalf Of the law and or
dinanees, to the advantage Of the city
aud of the people. 1t is something
that is certainly we'll worth trial
here in Salt Lake, and The Tribune
is unreservedly in favor Of it.
The regulation of the saloous in Salt
Lake City has been largely successful,
but there have been violations from
time to time of the requirements of the
law and ordinances, and those who
pcrpcfrate these violations seem to be
absolutely regardless Of law and ordi-
nance; i'll fact, practically in revolt
against both, Jna-smuch as these reck-
less persons persist in violating the
law and disregarding the ordinances,
and as mild means seem to be ineffcct-
ual to bring them TO any due sense of
their responsibility, The Tribune is in
favor of refusing licenses 10 all such
persons and not granting any other IL
censc in lieu of the license refused
The unworthy should be shut out nbso
lutely. In that way it would be very
easy. and without any clash. TO reduce
the number Of saloons to the limit That
the Council would approve, 1t would
be perfectly fair TO do this, also, since
these defiant saloon keepers have shown
themselves TO be unworthy Of the privi-
lego granted Them.
The nunher of saloons should he
agreed upon by the Council, on fair
basis, and licenses above that number
absolutely refused. And in order TO
arrive at the ones who should receive
licenses. tue Council should select from
among the applicants those who are
most deserving and refuse Ijrnuscs IN