The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1915-02-13
STATE WIDE PROHIBITION
BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE
OF utah.
Does Prohibition Prohibit
{ By c. C. Goodwin. }
Gentlemen:


Gentlemen:
A bill calling for state wide prohibit
tion is now pending in the legislature.
In view of that fact we, believing
that we have the best interest of the
state. both moral and material at heart,
hereby most earnestly and solemnly pro-
test against such legislation.
Some of our reasons for such protest
are hereby submitted.
When the pioneers entered the Salt
Lake Valley, they were under the guild
ance of their prophet and seer, Brigham
Young.
For eight yeaAs he was governor of
Utah.
For forty years the dominant church
had full control of all constructive legls-
lation in this territory.
We search the statutes passed during
those years, but find no word to indi-
cate that either he Mormon people or
church had any thought of establishing
prohibition by law.
Tracing the history of those years,
We further find that one of the first
manufacturing plants established in this
territory was a distillery for the manu-
facture Of compound containing all the
fighting attributes of moonshine whis-
key, and that the seer and prophet o!
the Latter-day Saints was the senior
partner in the enterprise: not only in the
manufacture. but sale of the compound,
Further that the sale of the product
was at first carried on in the church,
stores; that when the 2 C. NJ l. was
founded. 1t was from the first the
chief agent for the sale of liquors
throughout all tbs rhegion.
Hence when later men engaged in the
business they were Justified in the belief
that 1t was business that was held as
legitimate, and. unedr proper restriction,
would be protected, under the written
laws and by the sanction of the commun
ity.
Hence the present rage can only Id
construed as due to the fanaticism of
men and women. who, in the extacy of
theiN zeal, forget the very hottest of
their maxims-to do unto others as they
would that others dounto them.
We have exulted in the progress of
our state.
When men have built new structures
or opened new mines or redeemed and
made productive tracts Of land from the
desert, We have rejoiced at their effort
and enterprise and told how many poor
nine they were giving employment to.
This has gone on until Utah, which
for forty years was but as a ship plung-
ing and rolling under the lashings of
raging hurricanes and angered seas, has
at last righted up and is running steadil
now on an even keel.
But, as in all other states, a business
depression is upon us: many of the fore
most business men are In debt; the ut
most exertions of many will be required
to enable them to pull through the
utmost charity of all for each other is
Should the contemplated legislation
culminate in a statute, 1t would or Grip
pie many of the men who from the
first day Of their residence in Utah
haze been public lenefactors
We know further, from the experience
of other states. that others by thousands
would be crippled In their business
that the revenues of the state would
be depleted, the schools and all charita-
bic institutions would be wounded; the
roll of the unemployed would be length
need, and SO interlocked are the business
interests Of the state that thousands
would suffer who never buy or drink In
toxicating liquors.
1t may be said that II q great majority
Of the people of the state desire pro-
hibition, they should have It. Yes, but
under such terms as would be just. The
law says: No man shall be deprived OF
his property without due process q
law. Due process Of law does not mean
any vagary that may possess the soul OF
a fanatic legislator.
A great majority OF the men whom
Warden Pratt at the penitentiary has
charge OF are under his care because
they, too, desired the sequestration OF
other mems property without due process
Of law. Is the same desire dignified and
made righteous when 1t eminates from
q member Of legislature with the truth
Of history and the experience OF centur-
ies count for nothing?
In some shires Of England like legis-
lation TO this proposed has been passed.
but In every Gaze the same law provides
that fun compensation shall be made