The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-20

GOV. Powers has been requested by o
large number of petitioners 10 issue
special orders to officers whose duty it is
to enforce the prohibitory law, calling
for the earnest, impartial and faithful
enforcement of this law" Very likely
the Governor will fayorably respond and
give the special orders asked for. 1t must
be obvious, however, ssthat officers whom
the Governor has no power to remove,
and for the most part officers whose
special duty it is to enforce the prohibit
tory laws, belong to that class, are not
going to be much affected by any orders
from him. They are in no sense of the
word his subordinates They do not owe
their positions to him, but to the people.
1t is what the people want, therefore,
rather than what the Governor may
want, that is likely to control them; and
our observation long since convinced
us that the majority of the
voters of the larger places, es-
pecially the cities, do not want an
honest, impartial ana stringent enforce
ment of the prohibitory law. A certain
kind of enforcement they do want and are
in favor of, but an impartial and
stringent enforcement is not the kind. A
stringent and impartial enforcement is
only possible by the aid of spoilers, but
grand iuries almost Invariably throw out
their testimony and even the judges do not
hesitate to treat that kind Of testimony
with contempt when 1t is presented In the
courts. The only sheriff of this county
who in many years had made really
vigorous effort to enforce the law
thoroughly and inpartially was defeated
in this city by ov,r 300 votes, though
every other candidate on his ticket had
from 500 to 500 majority. This state Of
facts does not excuse che officers, for they
are under obligation to thoroughly and
impartially enforce the law whether the
people like it or not, but they explain
how it happens that they do net live up
to that obligation. When the officers are
taught that unfaithfulness in the e1ecu-
ton of this law will defeat their re-
election they will be faithful as far forth
as possible. But in the past the teaching
! has been all in the other direction in this
part of the state at least 1t is the officers,
who have been conspicuous for their en-
forcement of this law that have had to
| fight hardest for reelection, not those
who have been the most negligent. I'm.
less this condition is changed all the
proclamations in the world will have no
more than temporary effect The con-
dition of public sentiment on this ques-
ton by a story which is told of q mer-
chant engaged in legitimate business who
had wanted the law vigorously enforced.
Finally he got what he wanted and ex-
pressed satisfaction. But when tho en-
forcement became the indirect means of
causing him considerable LOGS of money
he complained that there had been lack
of discretion. This complaint of lack 0
discretion is very common when enforce
ment gets to be hot. The low rumshops
the people generally want shut up, but
when the law is vigorously enforced
against the hotels and apotheoary stores,
especially the whosleale ones, then there
is almost certain to be loud complaint of
lack OF discretion. A stringent and i'm
partial enforcement must, however, hit
all the places where LIQUOR is sold,
whether that be their main business or
only small part of it.
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