The evening world., 1895-09-30

citlzens may IKE law, IL cannot be
tolerated In an American community
that any body OF men shall stand up and
say they will not obey law.
The result Of these convictions was
the immediate SUI mission OF the or
ganized liquor dealers. Parts OF three
days had been consumed by the Court
OF General Sessions not simply to con-
vict few persons OF petty msde-
neanors. but to determine whether
conscientious public officers and courts
striving to act in accordance with the
spirit and letter of their official oaths
should or should not be upheld.
After these convictions removals
| ceased. and the Central Liquor Dealers
Association, representing perhaps 80 per
cent. OF the liquor dealers of this city
and 10 per cent OF the capital invested
in the retail liquor business. Informed
the Court OF General Sessions and this
Court that In the future they would
obey the law and appeal to the next
Legislature to give their business such
freedom as might at the same time b."
consistent with n decent and orderly
observance of Sunday.
Liquor Dealers Surrendered.
I'm substance this assoCIa lion said
| that 1t was not just that its member
should obey the law and at the same
time competitors In business should be
allowed to sell liquor on sundays.
They were assured that they having
determined to obey the law, those who
did no'. after the ample warning they
had received. would be dealt with Sc
verely. both because such violations
would be wilful In the extreme. and he
cause law abiding citizens. with large
property interests at stake should not
be allowed to suffer from the acts of
wilful lawbrcakcrs.
"After ample notce for excise viola
tions In September. this court began
to impose a heavy iine on those who
pleaded guilty. and in the cases of con
months Imprisonment.
AT once that which had taken place
before the first of September took place
again. There was general removal
of excise cases into General Sessions
Meanwhile the Recorder had gone into
another part Of General Sessions. where
he did not have control of the Grand
Jury, and We havc yet to learn that "A
single one Of these transferred cases
OF September violation mas been tried.
although there have been three parts of
General Sessions sitting, while there was
only one when the same situation last
arose
"Then, with the Recorder In charge
OF the Grand Jury, and the same issue
involved. |. O., shan any body of men
In this community be II, rmittrl to defy
the authorities In the enforcement Of
the law, the District Attorney placed
the removed cases on the calendar aui
moved them for Immediate trials, which
resulted in speedy convictions. And
this the District Attorney did in the
heated season. when only one part Of
the General Sessions was sitting and
there were many prisoners In the Tomhs
prison awaiting trial on charges OF
Felony.
Excise Arrests Increased h"p'"'y.
1.-THE effect Of this failure to promptly
prosecute these removed cases as was
done In August was at once seen. ON
the second Sunday In September the
number OF arrests for excise violations
was eighteen. ON the third Sunday
twenty-Seven. an Increase OF % per cent.
On the fourth Sunday forty-three an In
crease or more thah 10 per cent. over
the second Sunday. As to yesterday.
we have not AZ yet any information.
MIR. Assistant ,islrict-Attoiney, TINS Is
grave situation. Experience had with
In two months has demonstrated that II
the District Attorney does his duty, the
efforts of the Police Board and TINS cour,
In enforcing this law VIII be rendered
effective. HIS oath binds hun to cause
all laws to be enforced AS ours binls US,
ana he must obey H.
The question IL broader than the mere
conviction of a few misdcmeantnts. \
principle Is involved. What | have said
has not been for myself alone. but after
the most careful reflection and confer
ence with my associates. ana with their
full appreciation. AMI by thcir desire.
Takes Distrirt- Attorney to Task.
This is the third time at least that
we have called the attention OF the Dis
trict-Attorn"% 10 the existing situation.
When an "hicial Is charged with neg
lcct OF duty, TIE fact that his atten-
ton has been repeatedly called to this
duty has always been regarded as most
cosent evidence tending to show neglect.
1t must not be forgotten that the
justices Of ths court are magistrates