The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-11-02

W an Adu nut DpNAA AiA04ANAgAASQ Up 70
that time
STATEWIDE PROHIBITION
OPPOSED.
The Rev. George Eliot Cooley, at
one time was one Of the most inhuen-
tial Methodist ministers in Vermont
He was prominent and popular in his
own church. He fought openly
against the statewide prohibition law
in Vermont, and when that state
voted against statewide prohibition.
and in favor Of licensing the saloon
the Rev. Mr. Cooley played a principal
part IN that campaign. In speaking
Of the statewide prohibition law in
1901 before the Methodist conference
Of LOndonville. Vermont. Mr.. Cooley
said:
Good men and sincere men can and
do differ honestly on the results
of this law. L stand unqualified
~ on the ground of temperance
as principle OF life TO which an
individuals are amenable. We
are coming TO see that il is i'm
possible to bring the Kingdom of
God by legislation; yet as ear
nest men. we are anxious TO de-
termine upon the best method OF
dealing with the temperance
evil.
May il not be possible that in the
effort TO prevent this evil of in
temperance by a state prohibitOry
law, we are fostering greater
and more insidiOus eVilsE Re
spect for the courts has been I'M
dermined by the wholesale dis
regard of law, confidence in judi
cial processes has been destroyed
by so many miscaFria ges of JUS
tice, the oath has been inVal-
idated and perjury promoted by
the effort 10 enforce a law which
many feel under no obligation TO
observe.
The condition OF things thus brought
about ought 10 be appalling 10
the teacher OF morals and the
advocates OF law and order.
Who Is not aware OF the great
injury done 10 organized society
by these persistent attempts 10
subVert the law. 1t tends 10
make officials tWO-faced, candi-
dates for office discriminating, and
when elected, unfaithful and
hypOcFitical The effect OF the
law has been 10 rear a class of
men who shameiessly pay fines
and brides and hush money IN or
der TO evade its operation, and
another class which will just as
shamelessly accept this corrupted
money.
I take issue emphatically and sin
cerely with those who would
maintain and enforce a state
prOhibitOry law. Without the
people behind a law in each COM
munity where IL is 70 be enforced, /
that law is impotent
Bishop Satterlee says; Prohibition |
las been tried in other places and It |
las been found wanting. In Maine,
which is pointed out as the first place /
where prohibitory laws were enacted, |
is a farce"
Il am persuaded" says Cardinal |
Gibbons. that it Is practically impos-
ible to put prohibition into effect in /
my large community. Laws like 1
that are certain TO be vio-
ated had best not be made, for inces-
ant violation draws upon them dis
aspect" Cardinal Gibbons is a great
oree for good. but is not an idealist.
20 one will accuse this great prince
4 the Roman Catholic church of
'eing in the pay of the liquor inter
SITS.
Bishop Perry Of Iowa said: There
) just as much drunkenness under
he prohibitory laws Tin Iowa) as
here ever was before. Prohibition
oes not prohibit. 1 have lived IN five
tates where IT failed utterly. The
rug stores became the saloons Four
druggists in Iowa took out
overnment licenses TO sell whisky,
nd it is 10 be supposed that they
-ould not pay S25 for the privilege
Mess they really meant to sell whis-
y"
Bishop Gaiior Of Tennessee lives in
state where they have a statewide
rohibition law It was passed by the
'emocratic party. and its enforce
lent is in the hands OF the Demo-
ratio party. Memphis. Tenn, has
lree times as many saloons in pro-
ortion To population at the present
me as has Salt Lake. ~Such a dras-
c law as prohibition" says Bishop
aiior, imposing a special theory Of
lorals upon a community. must be-
'me a provoeation of deception and
ing and disrespeet for law. which
re worse Nan intemperance. In
mperate legislation is as bad as the
temperate use OF food and drink"
These men all take the position
lat where the sentiment OF a COM
unity favOrs the prohibition of
luor as a beverage that it can be ]
Dne and the law viii be obeyed. {
hey take the position also that It is I