Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-09-28
Alma. Mich. Friday. Sept. 90. 1888.
"H0NcR TO WHOM HONOR

There seems to be an unreasonable,
and unjust disposition on the part Of
many of our citizens, TO complain of
the position of the Village council on
the liquor question. 1t is assumed by
some, that the Village Board, is spec
ilically charged with the enforcement
of the liquor law in the statute itself
and that it is therefore their duty to
see that it is duly enforced and thus,
they relieve themselve of the disagree
able task, while others delegate this
unpleasant task to the Sheriff, or his
deputy, constable, or Village marshal
and thus they find sweet release, from
what to them would be a very unpleas-
ant duty.
In Sec. 10 of the law in question, it
is specified, who shall take the in
iatory steps in its enforcement, 1t
reads as follows: :" 1t shall be the
duty of every county treasurer, sheriff,
deputy sheriff. police officer OF other per-
son having notice, or knowledge of any
violation of the provisions of this act,
to Immediately notify the prosecuting
attorney of the county thereof, and it
shall be the duty of such prosecuting at
torney, when complaint on oath is
made, forthwith, to prosecute every
person violating any of the provisions
of this act, and for each and every vio-
lation thereof
Sec. l9 Provides that Whenever
complaint shall be made, by any person,
on oath, before any justice of the peace,
in any county, or other officer, or
magistrate haying jurisdiction, that
any person is found intoxicated in any
hotel, store, public building, street,
alley, highway or other public places,
it shall be the duty of such justice mu-
nicipal or police court, to issue a sub
ppna to compel the attendance of such
person, SO found intoxicated as afore-
said to appear before the justice, or
court issuing the same, to testify in
regard to person, or persons, of whom
and the time when, and the place where
and the manner in which, the
liquor producing his intoXication was
procured, and if such person, when
subpGnoed shall neglect, or refuse, to
obey such writ. the said justice, or
court who issued the same shall have
the same power and authority to COM
pei the attendance of the person so
subpGoed, and to enforce obedience to
such writ, as in other civil cases" etc.
If, instead of trying to throw the re-
sponsibllity of the enforcement of the
law upon those, whom, they deem to
be charged with that duty the friends
of temperance would realize the fact
that, that phrase " other person. in the
law means them, and would join hands
in some practical way, much might be
accomplished, to remedy the evils, of
which they complain. To this con-
dition it must come before any great
good will be achieved.
There is no doubt, but that, the Vii
lage council, in their action, fixing the
bonds, at six thousand dollars, intended
to honestly, and fully, comply with the
wishes of their constituency, as they
had been expressed at the polls
They did their duty as they understood
it, manfully, and it is very question
able, whether they are justly charge
able with the results. They thought,
with others, that if no licenses were
taken out, no liquors would be sold.
Are they to blame that this is not the
case?
If each friend Of Temperance will
manfully assume his own personal re-
sponslbility and join hands with othe. S,
something can be accomplished.
Will they do it :?