The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-07-14
DISCUSSING CRIMNALITY.

VI course the Deseret News holds
the American party responsible for
conditions, which, according to the
Smoot organ are worse now than they
ever were under an American admins
tration. 1t is but natural for the News
to take such stand, as there never
was q shortage of crops in the valley
or lack of snow In the mountains
that the church organ didn't charge
against the American party. In its
blind bigotry the News will say any
thing that seems to reflect upon "out-
siders.'
But even so, although actuated by
spirit Of unreasoning hate. the News
makes a few admissions that really
Justify it in saying that "the geo
graphical position Of Salt Lake City
does not alone explain why at times
it becomes gathering place of thieves,
burglars, and confidence men," Just
read this from the News:
But this is not the only factor The
police have succeeded in cleaning up the
streets fairly well. but they are handi-
capped We have pool rooms. II not In
the. city, SO close by as to be practically
In II. and crooks are naturally attracted
by the opportunities such places offer.
tSo,,uh we have ,e a pleasure resort, close by
racing Is the chief attraction. That Is
another drawback, for crime Is sure to
follow race track gambling. as Ia well
known.
There may be other drawbacks, but
these are notorious, and there seems to
be no possible way OF getting the upper
hand OF the criminal element until city
CnI1ntp Officials ND rfc o1I
IN harmony and unity Of purpose. and
see eye to eye, as they ought to do In
the warfare upon the enemies that prey
upon society. And we believe that after
the prolonged era Of liberation OF crime
we had here, unusual severity In its
prosecution and punishment must be
ADOPTED ADOPTED until the criminal world shall
become thoroughly advised that Salt
avoid as It. but recently. was to infest.
Does the American party run this
countyf Is it responsible for these
gambling hells 30 close by that they
furnish an attraction for crooks and
temptation to the unsophisticated
Did the American party license these
pool rooms Just outside the city limits
Can the unreasonable fanaticism of the
intolerant News make such a claim
Doesn't 1t know that the Republican
machine Of Senator Smoot absolutely
dominates the county government,
which not only permits but legalizes
these lures Of criminals Of which the
News compla1nsf
The church organ also refers to con-
ditions In an adjoining county where
horse racing is permitted, with all the
crime that follows in its wake. Here
tofore no one has had the hardihood
to blame the American party for the
administration of Davis county affairs |
"There may be other drawbacks SAYS
the News, "but these are notorious"
Another drawback and detriment to
the enforcement Of the laws is con-
fessed by tho News. when it says that
"there seems to be no way Of getting |
the upper hand of the criminal ele-
ment until city and county officials |
and courts all work In harmony and |
unity Of purpose, and see, eye to eye,
as they ought to do in the warfare
upon the enemies that prey upon 80
ciety."
That Is probably the keynote, and
the News unwittingly sounds 1t. With |
the county authorities making every
effort to neutralize reforms undertaken |
by the city, the legislature taking from
the city many Of the rights and essen
tials of self government, and bestow-
ing them upon the county, passing |
laws which repeal ordinances while the |
county attorney refuses to prosecute IN
der those very laws, the county lcens
ing iniquities that the city is trying TO
abolish, and the organ OF the county |
and state machine nssailing the city |
government and harassing the police |
there seems to be no possible way OF |
getting the upper hand of the criminal |
element" And these disturbances the |
News is largely responsible for, MS it