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Show business to escape bankruptcy and the other crushing effects of confiscation? Hero we are, slowly recovering from tho panic of last year, with business extremely sensitive to disturbing influences. in-fluences. Who can measure how far-rescuing far-rescuing would be the destruction of extensive property valuos, aggregating some $8,000,000 or 110,000.000? Might a bill be passed regulating the saloon business, to serve a temporary tem-porary purpose between now and the date to be fixed for absolute prohibition, prohibi-tion, which would make it almost impossible im-possible for anyone to become intoxicated intoxi-cated In a place where strongjirlnk ts sold, inflicting a heavy penalty , or the forfeiture of license for the ell-Ing ell-Ing of liquor to an intoxicated person, compelling saloon men to care for those found on their premises In a drunken condition? Before the present Cannon bill la voted upon, the business men of Ogden and Salt Lake should meet in conference confer-ence and view the proposed legislation from a business as well as a moral standpoint. There is no need for great na6tc on tho part of our legislators. . THE PROHIBITION BILL. Tho liquor traffic In Utah Is a curse to the people of the state. From village vil-lage to city, there is a trail over which are scattered the hulks of former for-mer men from which tho souls have taken fight, leaving but shells to be whisked along by every breeze that blows a scent of alcohol; there are Bigns of greater wreckage yet to come, when, boys, now. In their teens, are sacrificed to a developing thirst for strong drink; there are homes destroyed; de-stroyed; there are impoverished children; chil-dren; there are deserted wives. Wc might go. on and enumerate at great length the; crimes chargeable to tho saloon business in Utah, but it is not necessary. '- We 'all fo aware of tho blighting effect pf whiskey, and we recite these -things "' simply to provo that we are not misinformed as to the true conditions and' are not underestimating underesti-mating the evils of drunkenness. With the foregoing by way of introduction, in-troduction, we come to th point in mind which is the question whether the Utah legislature should pass tho Cannon bill now before it, which nro- vides for prohibition to take effect eleven months hence. Avoiding editorial edi-torial opinion, let us ask a few questions: ques-tions: Will such a measure, enacted Into law, deal unfairly with the liquor element? ele-ment? Will innocent parties suffer? Will there come a great business upheaval up-heaval and reaction? Will the law prove' confiscatory? There are In Ogden flfty;-two saloons, sa-loons, occupying some of tho most desirable de-sirable business quarters in the city. Will the vacating of these fifty-two places tend to disturb real C6tate values in the business district and lower rentals? Will the loss of the saloon revenue force higher taxes in this city? Will the throwing out of employment employ-ment of 300 or 400 men in this city, nearly all with "homes, affect the entire en-tire business community and inflict great hardships? Will many men, honorable In their calling, be ruined? , , Can any part of this widespread panic and harsh treatment be avoided and yet make possible tbe eliminating of the dark stain which, is upon the state? ; Is it absolutely ,nefC6sary to have I the prohibition measure go Into effect ! eleven months hence? If the people are resolved to have the liquor evil cast out, would it bo other than exact justice to place the date of enforce-' enforce-' ment of the new law two or three ji years hence, or far enough in the fu-1 fu-1 ture to allow thoso now In the liquor r . . |