The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-06-26
ALLEGE PROHIBITION
EMINENTLY UN.AMERICAN
Has Accomplished Nothing for
Uplift of Race, Is the
Claim Made.

the social or economic conditions Of the
people of his state. and further pointing
out results which he regarded as dis
advantageous. Vernon j. Rose. former
chief of police of Kansas City, Kan.
spoke to an immense audience in the
open air thcater at the Salt Palace
grounds last night.
This meeting was also addressed by
Charles NJ. Bryan, city attorney OF Mem
phis. Tenn, who argued the illegality and
Injustice OF prohibtory cnactments as re-
lated TO the liquor traffic. seeking to
demonstrate that such legislation was a
long step backward in civilization. The
hour was late when Mr. Bryan concluded
his address. but he hcld his auditors at
closest attention To the end. Both speak
crs were vociferously checrcd at FREQUENT
intervals,
Plea for Calm Judgment.
Mr., Rose began his argument by MAX
ing forcible plea for calmness Of judg-
ment and uttarancc in arguing the dues-
ton, pointing out that the use of vitupcr-
alton and invectiye stirred up bitterness
OF feeling. with the result that no matter
how the election was decided the citizens
were prevented from getting together in
a spirit of amiiy in other matters pertain
| ing To the public good. Whatever aSser-
| tlons might be made by either side as TO
| conditions in Kansas really had little bear
ing upon the question in Utah, as the is
| sue was one 10 be determined by princi-
! pies known TO he true and not upon the
| assertions OF any advocate who could
easily make statements that his hearers
| knew nothing OF as 10 their truth or fall
| sity. He credited the majority OF pro
hibltionists with sincerity. but objected
| to their stand. because from their own
narrow viewpoint they had figured out
| mathematically an ironclad, infalliblc rule
| OF conduct for all the rest Of mankind.
IT is not the abolition of the saloon"
said he, that the prohibitionst cares
about. 1t is. the exercise of power and
| authority. the ability to use autocratic
domination and suppression. The prihi
| bitionist does not care much about
| as he does about being able 10 say to
every man, 1T Is a misdemeanor to take
a drink. That is his ultimate end and
aim and he is not honest in his conten-
| tlon."
Results of Prohibition.
Mr. Rose went on with his argument 10
show that with thirty years 'dryness"
in Kansas. the state was neither better
states of equal population, He declared
| that of 900 farmers 5S per cent were
practically landless. about the same pro-
portion as prevailed in Nebraska and In
other western states. This proved, he
contended the the question in no way
went to the root of the matter. which
| he argued at length, lay in the gross
faults OF our industrial and economic sys
tenn.
Regarding the claim made by the pro-
| hibltionists that there were many coun-
| ties In Kansas that had no inmates in
the poorhouses, or prisoners in the jalls.
he admitted that this was true, but said
these were the short grass counties
where the people were scarce that
| they had none 10 spare TO put In these
institutions. BY, careful investigation he
had found that the samesconditions exist
ed in Colorado. Nebraska Utah, Nevada
and other western states.
Causes of Crime.
Speaking at length on The question OF
| the causes of crime, Mr.. Rose asserted
without QUALIFICATION that his long ex-
City, kan, had demonstrated to him
that nine tenths OF the crime was the re-
suit of poverty; that men were driven to
! desperation by their inability to secure
work and that the direct cause OF this
dire poverty was the unjust distribution
Of the wealth created by the laborer's
toll the non-producer getting the greater
part of the wealth produced.
''Of course he remarked with sar-
castle lntonation. "a prohibitionist would
| blame man for beating his way to ind
a job and taking a drink when 1t was
| offered to him when he was tired. hun
CRY and desperate: The. prohibltionist's
advice would be. Stay sober and starve'
The great danger in police administration
| today is the assumption that somebody
Is going TO do something wrong and on
| that assumption deprviDg men OF their
| inherent rights and liberties,
Many Non-P Producers.
But they say that the saloon keeper
! produces nothing grant you. neither
does the lawyer. the banker. nor the
prohibition agitator. The men who pos
day are non producers. they have taken
ii unjustly from the men who toll The
saloon keeper is not producer. but the
man who creates wealth has the right
TO exchange it for whatever gives linn
| pleasure and gratifies his desire. so long
as in doing so he interferes with the
same right OF any other person. This is
the fundamental principle Of human lib
erty and equality. 1t is the right to
choose and TO take away this right Is 10
turn back the hand upon the dial OF
| progress
MIR. Rose. then discussed at length the
wage question. asserting that low wages
| and consequent poverty produced most OF
The nations misery and declaring that
Kansas under II prohibition regime. had
these evils, He closed with an eloquent
| appeal TO every voter to remember the
rights OF his fellows.
Bryan Witty Orator.
Attorney Charles NJ. Bryan. who fol-
lowed Mt Rose, is both brilliant and
witty orator. He told a funny story TO
| illustrate every point he made and had
his audience cheering and laughing by
turns. Mr.. Bryan's primary contention
was that prohibition could in no sense
| be regarded as moral question. il was
! purely political. and one which no divine
as minister had any right TO take w.
To attempt to save mems souls through
i legislation. he said. of necessity involved
the union OF church and state. a thing
! expressly forbidden by the constitution
| OF the United States. He paid a glowing
tribute 10 the spirit OF liberty and indie
pendence for which our nation has stood
since its foundation. and fercely de-
! nounccd the argument that even the mn-
| iority had "a right To- regulate the per-
| sonal habits OF the minority, He wil,ily
| contrasted prohibition and temperance,
declaring that no prohibitionst knew
| anything about what temperance meant,
| because he was incapable OF breadth and
| charity OF view.
Mans Right to Live.
| I'm this world said Mr.. Bryan ''ne
want to live, not merely exist. All OF us
| do things and use things that arc not
| entirely for our good. but do so be-
! cause want To get some Of the sun
| shine out OF life. We don't need tea and
coffee, VIC don't need ice cream sodas
| we don't need picture hats and high
| heeled shoes. but they add TO comfort