Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-04-07
PROHIBITION IN n. u.
State Enforcement League I'm SEES
sion ut Grand Forks. 80

M SO
State Enforcement League In ses-
sion ut Grand Forks. 80
Grand Forks - The annual cOnvcn-
ton of the State Enforcement League
was in session here. The principal
event. aside from routine work, was
the reading Of Secretary Lindelie's re-
port. He said in part:
At the last meeting the state was li-
vided into two districts in order to
better further the work, the southern
half to be supcrintended by II. NJ. Pol
lock and Il. Lynch, and the northern
by the secretary and X. Il. Griffith.
The work has thus been conducted in
the two districts Independent of each
other. In the northern part the league
has attempted to secure evidence in
125 cases. 1t has succeeded in all but
nine cases. In eighty cases conviction
or closing of the places has been Sc
cured. The other cases have been dis
missed.
In all these cases the league has fur
nished the evidence. A number OF
convictions have been obtained in some
counties independent of the league,
and the league claims no credit for
them. In some counties, especially
Ward and Cavalier, the assistance of
the league was not needed. In all the
counties except Grand Forks the as
sistnce rendered by the league was
cheerfully accepted, and special praise
is given the county attorneys of Walsh,
Pembina, Griggs, Trail and Nelson
counties for their zeal in enforcing the
prohibition law. Considerable space in
the report is devoted to Grand Forks
county and the position taken by it's
states attorney, which is said to have
been so unfriendly that little has been
accomplished. All the cities in this
county are said to have been cleared
of blind pigs by hard work, except
Larimore, which has SO far been an un-
solvable problem.
The attitude of the attorney general
is next spoken of. The report contin-
ueS: '"rhe attorney general cannot be
counted OH as friend of the league,
Judging from our experiences. When
ever the league officials have written
him., he has always been careful not
to reply. Last summer there was no
states attorney in Pierce county, and
the league had obtained evidence
against three blind piggers. Your sec
rotary requested the attorney general
to appoint an assistant attorney gen
eral for Pierce county, but received no
reply. The law has been flagrantly
violated in his own city, Devils Lake,
until recently, but he has not raised his
hand before he was compelled to by
public sentiment. The law is still viO-
lated in our capital city, but he ignores
this fact"
The report states that, on the whole,
the law is now better enforced in the
state than ever before. In, only few
cities is the law openly violated. and
few blind pigs do paying business.
The league has been assisted by the
leading papers. the w. G. Il. u, and
especially by the work of A. G. Ran
kin. who is highly praised. The secre-
tary closes by suggesting the appoint
ment of Superintendent who shall de-
vote his whole time to the work, as he
thinks the work can be more satisfac-
torily carried on in this manner. Less
detective work would be necessary, as,
in many cases local parties are will
ing to secure evidence gratis if they
know how to go about it. Provision
is made in the law for the payment OF
expenses incurred out of a special fund
provided by the fines. ETC., of yiolators.
During the year $1,S7666 has been re-
ceived by the treasurer, and about Sl,-
500 remains uncollected.