The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-04-13
THE BLIND PIGS.

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THE BLIND PIGS.
We do not take the blind pig owners
for fools, nor yet as altogether bad.
We believe they have good qualities
and common sense, and as men en-.
dowed with reason We ask their at
tention to what VIC believe to DO true
and Incidentally the same truths, II
true, are Of interest to their custom
ers and to the general public.
We believe that no man at present
engaged in the &ale OF liquor 10 this
city would sell II he knew conviction
was sure to follow. There Is u notice
In our columns threatening conviction
unless the business is stopped. Now
the blind piggcr, for safety must de-
pend on public sentiment, an inei,l-
cient law, on perjury, ON unwilling
officials, want of evidence, or lack Of
interested prosecution to lay COM
plants, and we ask every one interest
ed to candldly view the facts aud
Judge how much of such backing the
blind pigs Of Pembina have at the
present time.
From our knowledge Of public scnt,.
ment in this city on the question Of
prohibition, we arc satisfied that there
is gradually and certainly u change
occurring, that bodies NO good to the
persons who persist in selling liquor
unlawfully. There are number of
reasons for this change. Among these
reasons are, that the prohibition law
Is q legal fact. 1t Is proven that as Il
whole the law is u success, both as IL
punishment for offenders and as u
hindrance to the sale. Men of pro-
perty and men who desire a good namc
as law-abiding citizens arc either out
Of the business or getting out. The
feeling Of lcniency which was felt for
men Of property who were u large tax
payers who broke u law to which SO
many are opposed, disappears when
irresponsible parties take up the I'M
lawful traffic. In the same way the
more respectable class of drinkers, the
men from whom the saloons got the
most money, are either not drinking
ut all or keep their liquor In their own
homes. Thisagain reduces the stand.
ing Of respectability of the blind pig.
The class of customers is not 50 re.
spectacle or influential. AS we have
said before in these columns the aver
age citizen is naturally law-abiding
and when he becomes convinced that
a law is a law he will obey even IL he
does not approve, hence VIC think we
are right in saying that public opinion
is gradually and certainly changing,
and that there arc good reasons for it.
And VIC ask every Pembina reader to
candidly think II these are not facts.
We doubt IL any person would sell
liquor II he were certain he would
have to suffer the penalties of the law,
and yet. what chances is he taking
and how little profit is he making.
The only way to make money out the
trade is to have plenty Of custom; but
plenty Of custom means more oppor.
tunities Of being caught. The only
way the blind pigs can be run with
profit and safety IS where public scnti.
ment. is In their favor strong enough,
that witnesses will commit perjury.
where justices will discharge without
reference to evidence and where the
jury refuses to render verdict of
guilty. II the people In this business
In this city think that is the present
state OF affairs here, We think they
will find themselves mistaken, aud
they will only have themselves to
blame IL the hard alternative OF fine
and imprisonment is the result.
AS to getting evidence In this city,
the only questions that the unlawful
dealers need ask themselves are these?
II every citizen of the CITY were put
on oath would there be sufficient evil
dence to convict? That is, would
enough Of the customers tell the
truth? Remembering that the law
gives the right to have every or any
man put on oath, remembering the
warning given, by the w. G. T. u, re.
Numbering the convictions in other
towns In this county, what are the
chances? Wouldn't it pay better to
get out OF the business yourselves us
requested by the Upion?