The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-12
THE LIQUOR ELECTION.

| ne eiectloH TO DC hclu on juno 2itl
on the question of whether Salt LAX,
City is to he nwet' or "drv.' ha
hardly taken form so far Certain so
cIeties in the Mormon church have com,
out squarey for prohibition, and th,
evening church organ has been rathcl
ferocious on the same side for som,
time past. We do not look for this
movement te last, however, either in
those church organizations or in the
evening church organ, for the effort
Of the political leaders of the Mormon
church on the liquor question has never
| been for prohibition. The real purpose
| sought by them from of old has been
to retain the liquor business in their
| own hands. chiefly through the huge
| liquor sales of the Il. C. NJ l. drug
store, and to keep the Gcntlles out OF
the liquor trade. The brethren want
the profits of that trade themselves.
And so. when it comes to A question
of prohibition, the political leaders of
the church are always found against
prohibition, Just as they were last year
when they Joined with the Federal
bunch IN opposing prohibition in this
State. They VIII. as VIC firmly believe,
oppose prohibition at the coming elec
tlon on June 9th, and will crush out
all movements within their own lines
that may seek to do active work for
prohibition The church organ always
works for prohibition up TO a certain
point, and then ii stops Just so, with
out doubt, it will do this year.
The Smoot organ, of course, will be
against prohibition. The Federal bunch
is against 1T, and the Congressional
delegation is against it. And this re-
minds us that little more than two
years ago President Nephi l.. Morris
and others. who were Jealous prohibi.
tion workers, called on the Utah Con
gressional delegation TO stop the Fed
cral bunch in its viruleut work
against prohibition. They received in
return telegram referring them to a
letter that Apostle Senator Smoot had
written To President Joseph f. Smith Of
the Mormon church on the subject. The
contents of this letter have never been
fully disclosed, but enough has been
said about it to Indicate that in it
Smoot made plea TO the effect that
"the interests" which he has served
SO faithfully while be has been in the
Senate, including the liquor interests,
furnished the votes that retained him
In his seat as Senator, and that conse
quently he was obligated TO those in.
terests. and that it would not do for
Utah to range itself on the side of pro-
because that would offend the
heavy interests involved in the liduor
traffic, and would be in The nature of
a breach of faith with the men who
had rendered such service to him, II
VIII be remembered that Elder 3. n
Roberts, in public meeting in the
theater. which was filed to the doors
to hear him, dared the opposition to
produce that letter. 1t has not yet been
produced
The prohibition influences among the |
priesthood of the Mormon church have
always been very active up to the time
hat the activity would be expected TO
lake practical form in the voting. Then
The zeal cooled off. and the prohibition
sentiment has been obliterated. 1t was
that there would be an ex.
'remely heavy prohibition vote pnlled |
N this city and county last year. since |
i was made the direct issue in the cam |
oaign. Nothing Of the kind happened, |
however. This prohibition vote faded |
away and was practically negligible |
quantity, although rampant and noisy |
light up to the eve of the election. |
1t will no doubt be the same this wear. |
As the American. party platform said
asst fall, it is useless TO ask the priest
mood for anything in the way of pro-
llbitlon; that influence is always de- |
,eptive. 1t promises much and per
forms little. 1t stands for prohibition
until II gets the cooperation of the
ION Mormon temperance sentiment, and |
hen it drops out Doubtless it will be
he same old thing this year.