OCR Text |
Show PEOPLE ARE UNITED AND YET DIVIDED There is one question upon which the people of the state of Utah seem to be united that is the prohibition question they nearly all want prohibition. The question is as to the best and most effective way to get it. L'pon this subject, sub-ject, as upon most others, the experience of others is a valuable aid in guiding our judment. Mere sentiment as o an ideal condition is not effective either in enforcing or in' judging the operations ! of a law. We must deal with fact. The experience of other states with state-wide prohibition legislation has produced one of two results, namely: Where the prohibitory law has not : been enforced vigorously, the traffic in ' intoxicating liquors goes on to an extent j that is demoralizing to the community, both in its direct result of prevailant -drunkenness and the inevitably general I disregard for law, lax enforcement of! any particular which characterizes a notoriously rigid statue affecting public I morals; or, where a rigid enforcement ' of prohibition has been instituted again- I st the sentiment and will of the major- j ity of the people of any particular com- ! munity, the trafiic has passed into the hands of morally lower and coarser persons per-sons than otherwise would be the case, and the back alleys, blind tigers, dives and speakeasies, vile beyond description combine to outwit officers of the law, mislead the unwary, and debase the general gen-eral moral tone of the public. Neither of these conditions is desir- j able in Utah, nor even tolerable, if pre- : vention is possible. Shall we have the dens, the dives and the speakeasies that are a special curse to any community or state afflicted there .vith, or shall we aim to place what is permitted by the vote of the people, or the liquor traffic in the hands' of licensed individuals, subject sub-ject to the most open inspection, and to ; rigid regulation and control? ! That state-wide prohibitian it no more easily enforced than local is a thoroughly demonstrated fact. If the local sentiment senti-ment is not for prohibition the law will not be enforced and the condition is far worse than where a saloon is operated with the restrictions of law to see that ; it is operated right. This is not a ques-i ques-i tion that should have been submitted to the people as a party issue. It is one that should be voted on as a district is sue and this is what the republican platform plat-form pledges its candidates to. |