The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-09

dram-shop law, and it never has been en-
forced"
Il do know it, and& have thought about
it 1t has always seemed to me altogether
wrong that provision of law so clear as
that is should be utterly ignored by our peo-
pie and by the officers whose duty it is to
see that the laws are obeyed. l have dis
cussed the matter on one or two occasions
with personal friends but the fact that dis
regard OF it dating far back beyond my own
administration had virtually worked
an unwritten repeal OF it. and that
any aggressiveness in that direction
at this late day might, therefore, be
construed as fanaticsm on my part,
dissuaded me from taking active steps to-
ward enforcing it. Now, however Legisla-
ture fresh from the people, and representing
supposedly the sentiments and wishes of the
voters of to-day, has re-enacted and revival
lied that provision, and l. their executive
accept this as Just as sincere an expression of
their will as any other part of the law. 1t
makes no difference, and it should make no
difference, whether ] indorse the doctrines
mbodied in the bill or whether despise them.
l have taken an oath which obligates me to
execute its provisions, and there is but one
course for me in honor to pursue"
Il suppose you know that here in st. Louis
the Sunday feature of the bill has been re-
garded as merely a matter of form, meaning
nothing and intended only as an empty COM
Il do not know it, but regret to note that
the indications point that way. 1t makes
IL all the more unpleasant for the laws
representatives and this is only an
other proof of the pernicious effect which
laxity on the part OF public officials in
the discharge of their duty carries through
the many years and administrations that
follow them. Had this Sunday feature of
Of the dramshop law been enforced when it
was new, it would have brought no odium
and very little adverse comment upon the
officers who did it. They would simply have
been regarded as discharging a duty in a case
where they had no discretion. When one of
ticer, however, out of Difference to local pop
ular prejudice, or out of desire to improve
his future chances at the expense of an Of
fetal dereliction, shut his eyes TO this legal
requirement. he made mischevious prece-
dent. His successor could not do his duty
without being charged with narrow-minded-
ness or undue zeal. 1.-The, realizing this dan
ger followed in the footsteps of his prede-
cessor, and allowed the law to be trampled
on, then the next administration could only
undertake to do its duty at the risk OF being
regarded as little better than criminal. Thus
the matter went from bad to worse until it
became a quite general belief that
the Sunday law was dead letter and did
not have the sanction of even large minority
OF the people Now, however, that it has been
given new life by the affirmative and intel
ligent vote of the peoples lawmakers, this
fallacy is exploded and officers are bound to
accept it as any other edict from the people,
"You do not speak, then, as Sabhatarian
when you insist that the law must be en-
forced?"
If did not know you so well, your ques-
ton would be offensive. | certainly do not
speak as q SAbbatarian or as q man who holds
any opinion, favorable or unfavorable, con-
corning the law. l speak as the Governor of
Missouri, honored by the people by the high
est trust in their gift because they believed [
would not dishonor that trust. What they
by their representatives, say must be done |
propose shall be done, be their measures
ever so repugnant to me. In my earliest
childhood was inspired with reverence
for the Sabbath day and that feeling remains
with me yet. As an individual therefore, |
hold that the day should be observed from a
moral as well as a business stand point"
a suppose you have noted that our police
department intends to remain passive, unless
special orders be given to enforce the Sunday
clause? What do you propose doing in such
a CaseP'
Il have no information as to the attitude
of the department which would warrant me
in taking any action. | do not intend to
anticipate the action of any officer in the
State. The best test of their position is to
wait until one or two Sundays have passed.
with the law in force. Itwould be eminent
ly improper for me to say what | will or will
not do under hypothetical conditions. Suf-
flee it to say that every line of that law
must take effect. | have already explained
that, when the law has been dead letter for
years, | could understand how an officer
could look upon it as such; but cannot I'M
derStund how any man can so regard
it under the changed conditions 1t would
certainly be an extraordinary exercise of
official discretion for an officer to say, Il will
enforce this section and that section of the
laW n al n ltar
violated with impunity.' Ifany man takes
that position, it behooves him to consult
the terms of his official oath again."
What do you th:1k will be the effect of
the law, Governor?f
Now you ask for what is not, and of
course cannot be. an official utterance
| Well, you know, and the public has known
| all along. that am an Observation-Disclosures |
have always regarded prohibition as bad
measure with good obect-as a wrong and
unrepublican remedy for a great evil name
| ly, the abuse of what in moderate use is a
great luxury. | and the liberal class of my
! prohi bition friends have only differed as to
means. and not as to the ends to- be secured
When the issue came squarely up, there
fore, and when there seemed, to be immi-
nent danger that the extreme measures of
| prohibition, with its vast destruction of
| property interests and its serious inconveni-
ence to the masses OF the peonle
was about to be enacted, was
with those who took a con.
sentative course, and urged thata comprmise
measure be agreed upon. | was not an adj
vocate OF the Downing bill. save as a com
promise measure; but when it passed fully
expected that those who had been in such
great fear of prohibition would accent it in a
spirit of cordiaity and relief and that they
would have the good Judgment to recognize
that they were best irving their own inter
eStS as well as the interest of the nnblic nv