The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-03-14
THE SALOON AND THE COURTS.

i ne lT1DunD udb uIeSu tiot 'H'
transfer of the license granting power
to the courts would be certain to cause
the saloon element to interest itself
specially in the election of the Judges;
that instead Of the bench purifying the
saloon, the saloon would dehase the
bench. We are glad, accordingly, to
have this position so strongly sup
ported by the Rev. Ward w. Reese,
the new rector of st, Panl's church,
who is recently from Pennsylvania,
His letter on the subject is hero print
ed entire 1t is an Illuminating light
on proposition now before the people
of this State. and its lesson is, Don =
mix the saloon with the judiciary
1t is forcble warning against the
propricty of adopting the Federal
bunch plan Of taking the licensing
power for saloons away from the
municipalities and vesting it in the
courts.
Editor Trbune:-The Herald RepunN;;
can OF Sunday. March l2th, confirmed
tencc Those who have watched the
workings of the Pennsylavina system
absolutely know, that placing the Mye, power
the saloon business from politics.
The writer has had the opportunity TO
watch the PENNSYLVANIA system. he cast
his first ballot at the election for Judge
OF the Lancaster county courts IN that
state. Upon that occasion he plainly
heard the offer and the raise from hVc
and subsequently saw the money passed
over. Many such instances were OBJ
served by others: some actions were
brought. but no convictions II was com
monty reported that $S0.000 was spent in
this county, with IS .000 voters, for the
election of the successful candidate. one
BrubalSer. Until his death. about two
years after the election. there was the
prosperous era Of the free lunch, free
music wide-open saloon. The great
army OF loatcrs and vote-sellers In that
State look forward more eagerly Tor judi
cial elections than any others.
The former judge of the county courts
OF Blair county In which rs located INC
city OF Altoona, had wooden leg. a
few years prior to being raised To the
judiciary he was found one sunday
morning In winter. dead drunk in the
gutter along the main street OF Holt
davsburg, the county seat. He WAS re-
moved To the hospital, where II was
found that one leg was badly frozen,
and il was amputatcd. All the years
thereafter that he was upon the judicial
bench the "warmest fight" In the state
against the saloon was In that county
waged by tbs. local option people to re-
duce the number Of saloons. a year ago
| he died. and his successor. appointed by
J tho Governor. was young man OF clean
! life and high ideals. He Immediately
scaled down the licenses and more nearly
conformed TO the Will OF the people. But
there are rumors that the interests will
defeat him II he appears FOR popular
| election.
During the month Of January the
writer lived a, hotel in ShamolSn,
Every Sunday those who knew the way
| were led 10 a room where they could
! have whatever they wished. Upon in
! quirv. the Information was given tha I
| nearly every hotel i'm the town was SINH
larly accommodating II has been IT. thus hui
| Now the Socialists have demanded re-
form OF the saloon. and there is great
danger that they will control the coming
| election. Tor at the Governors election
\ OF last November they Dolled the largest
| percentage of Increased vote in that dis
| trlct.
city Of Harrisburg. il was commonly re-
ported that the judicial election was aid
ed by a pre- e-cction bargain that cer-
! tain man was TO he given "A license In
pie. who had no saloon and wanted none.
| a monster petition was sent TO tho court
in rcmonstrance. sun the rumor per-
sisted, and apparently the building was
being made ready for the opening. Then
| mass meetings -ere called in various
parts OF the city. and the decision was
| the DAY the license was to be granted.
That broke the nerve OF the judge and
he refused il.
Each OF these cities has an element
! similar TO that which infests the saloons
! or Salt Lake. but not so large In number
1 Yet even here they arc small minority
This rather debasing class is able to
foist upon the larger number OF decen,
II people the conditions which are a con-
stant invitation and incentive to worth
4 lessDess OF life. and character. by con-
trolling largely the selection of the judi
ciary But. you see. the value of tho
power OF licensing depends upon tho
character Of the local judge in Pennsyl-
vanla They have found them in un-
common instances. Are YOU better
equipped with such men? If not. ther
Utah will be more deplorable than Penn
sylvania. terrible as the condition o
that State is. both In city and county
for you have a relative larger popuIa
ton that wishes lax control of the sa.
/ loon. WARD WINTER REESE.
Rector Of Saint Paul's Church,