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Show A WIDE OPEN TOWN AND THE MORMONS. I hcstltato to reopen the unpleasant unpleas-ant subject of city protected vice now that the pleasant days of spring are up on us. But the coming of thousands thous-ands of Eastern people to the Grand Army encampment makes it imperative impera-tive that we should renew our efforts ef-forts to erase police protected gambling gambl-ing from the category of our municipal muni-cipal crimes. Our patience is becoming becom-ing farcical. Tho situation docs not brighten. The ease with which the city council coun-cil can be bowled over is not reassuring. re-assuring. I may illustrate. The council resolved, so we wcro told through the press, to grant no more liquor licenses on the ground that at present we were somewhat overstocked over-stocked with irrigating enterprises. Then camo along a little bit of a fellow fel-low a follower of the racing game who spoke confidentially and passed around tho cigars, and blandly observed ob-served that Ogden was "sure enough progressive," and eight big strong men fell down before the hurricane of suavity. We don't know what to expect. We are not sure what the next smooth nno will firmnnrl Tlio lnrnp ol Vila time Is that we shall be overrun with smooth ones who will want our eastern east-ern visitors to enjoy the season with us and who will be willing to divide with the city share and share alike for the privilege of operating some neat little confidence game. - Our officials apparently cannot resist re-sist the approaches of the diamonded gentry. There Is little hope that their back bones will undergo any marked stiffening process in the near future. But the strangers from the east will be here before long. In course of time they will roturn to the east. Do we want it reported by 40.000 easterners that Ogden is a wide open town? So I turn to my Mormon friends again. We gentiles frankly confess that without your aid wo cannot carry through any change In existing municipal muni-cipal conditions. United effort Is needed. Mormon leadership Is absolutely abso-lutely necessary. You have an institution insti-tution so perfectly organized that in a moment you can hurl 10.000 protests against this hideous injustice of openly open-ly and tolerated gambling. I am tempted to ask If It Isn't In just such a crisis as this that your organization organiza-tion is worth while? You have rights of course, but only a petty soul harps upon its rights. The city owes you much but you too owe the city much. You have great poyer. Iho greatness of your power increases jour responsibilities. respon-sibilities. The name of the city is at stake. Protected gambling must be suppressed sup-pressed by August 1st. I plead with you Apostle McKay, and you. President Shurtliff, and you President Evans, and you, President Wotherspoon, to set out toward tho goal of a city free from this glaring abuse, and I beg of you never to stop until the city has thrown off this half of Its hideous thraldom. I need not add that you shall have our earnest help. (Signed.) 'NOBLE STRONG ELDER. KIN. 1. |