Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1915-03-26
SPRY STANDS PAT FOR WHISKY.


4 was pretty generally expected by those
IN who have watched closely the tide of
events surrounding the introduction and passage
of the Wooten prohibition bill, which was finally
ratified by overwhelming majority of the sena-
tors and representatives in both branches of the
Legislature, the measure has been vetoed by
Governor William Spry after holding up the bill
until the Legislature had adjourned to prevent
any chance of it being passed over his veto. If
anything further was needed to prove that Gov
ernor Spry was in the camp of the liquor dealers,
this is certainly evidence enough.
In this matter Governor Spry has failed alb
solutey to keep faith with the people. He gave
his word of honor as a gentleman to members of
the senate that he would return this measure
with his action, favorable otherwise, to the leg
slature in ample time for them to take such action
as they deemed advisable before adjournment
He failed absolutely to keep faith and make his
promise good. And why did he fail to keep his
promise? Because it was learned by the oppon-
ents of the measure that some of the senators
had changed their attitude on the proposition, and
that the senate then had sufficient support for the
prohibition measure to pass it over the Governors
head. That made difference When Mr.. Spry
made this promise he had every assurance that
should he veto the bill there would not be the re-
qured two-thirds majority necessary to override
his veto, and he felt safe in giving the promise.
When he founud that there change in the
attitude of certain senators, he backed down and
took another tact, determined to stand pat with
his friends, the saloon men, and prevent the pas
sage Of prohibition measure at all hazards.
The Record is not accusing the Governor nor
any member of the Legislature with having sold
out to thefwhisky trust, but there is no denying
the potency of the filthy ucre, and it has been said
that every man has his price. 100000 is quite a
lot of money, and that is stated on good author
ity to be the sum contributed by the saloon elc-
ment to defeat the prohibition measure Just
how it was used none aside from the "inner
circle" will perhaps ever know But when a cause
so disreputable as the whisky traffic get the
support of practically all the daily papers, the
governor of the state and make DIR. Jekyll
and Mr. Hydes out of about half of the Legisla-
tors, it is sorry comment upon our condition as
state and people. In both houses of the legisla-
ture there were men--a number of them--who
were doing all they could to render the prohibition
measure Intellectual who did not dare to do other
wise than vote yes on the bill when brought to a
roll call because they afraid to let their con-
stituents know that they were opposed to prohibit
ton.
The reasons set forth by Governor Spry for
vetong the prohibition bill are weak and silly.
OF course, he had to say something, and the
reasons ascribed were perhaps as good as he
could invent, without making clean breast of
It and telling the real reasons why he would not
sign the bill
And the subsidized press refused to print any
thing that was not favorable to the whisky trust.
They were owned body and soul by the liquor ele-
ment, and friends to prohibition were unable to
get any of the real facts before the people. The
Deseret News pretended to support the measure,
hut was very careful not to say anything that
would really injure the interests of the saloon
men. All the papers were out with their micro
scopes looking for arguments against prohibition.
but all turned deaf ear against such utterances
as came from Senator Seegnler of this district,
Of from Representative Maybe of Bountful, et al.
These men were heroes in good cause and had
the courage of their convictions. They stood as
giants before whom the Shiny tainted whisky pol
iticians quailed because they had honor and right
upon their side. But not one word Of commenda-
tion was uttered for them by the Salt Lake press
Ladies and gentlemen, it was dirty mesa
reproach upon citizenship stain upon the
integrity of the men in whom we placed our trust
But the question is not settled. Right and deem
cy, outraged, will rise with dignity and might. and
when next the Utah Legislature is convened, We
feel constrained to promise that prohibition bill
will be enacted and placed upon our statute books
and instead of giving the whisky merchants a