Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1899-05-19

". 6. I. U.

W. give this week abrief resume
of the report of the Enforcement
League, knowing it will be of in
terest to every reader in the county
whose sympathies are with law
and decency.
During the four years since the
league was organized, conditions
throughout the state have i'm
proved wonderfully; six-sevenths
of the state is now practically
prohibition. While the league
has done the bulk of the active
work, it gives due credit to the
w. @. T. q. and it's indefatigable
president, Miss Preston. Much
praise is also given to the mag
ni6cent work A. G. Rankin has
done for the state.
During the past year, PA cases
were handled by the league.
Evidence was secured in all but IL
cases. Of these 81 were convicted,
81 skipped, II dismissed, % ne
elected, A injunctions, 10 cases
pending, l delayed, 3 bound over,
l died; balance, result not known
at date of convention. Two at
tempts were made to murder off,
GERS and workers of the league,
and the secretary was once as
saulted. Outside of the sixth
judicial district, no liquor is openly
sold except at Williston, Lidger-
wood and Hankinson. AS soon as
funds are forthcoming these will
be closed. In four counties and
in the largest city in our state
absolutely no liquor is sold. Most
money was spent in Walsh county.
but as the president of the ."Red
River Valley Blind Pig associa-
ton" is now in Jail, the league
believes the backbone of the rum
element in that county is broken.
The situation in Cavalier is dis
couraging on account of the at
titude of the states attorney. The
appointment of an assistant at
torney general for Cavalier is
contemplated. In Grand Forks
county, the situation which was
so bad a year ago is now satisfac-
tory. The brewery is closed and
every blind pig in the county is
closed, and the present states
attorney seems determined to keep
them closed. The credit for this
change is due to j.. B. Wineman.
who, when appointed assistant
attorney general, subdued the law.
lessness most effectively. The
secretary refers at length to the
situation sin Devils Lake, where q
detective and Vice President j. O
Sivertson came very near losing
their lives" He criticises oul
states attorney for his leniency in
dealing with the desperadoes. NJ
work has yet been attempted in the
Sixth district for lack of funds
and the prohibitionists there can.
not and dare not help themselves
During this year the league hopes
to be able to at least attempt te
redeem our capital city from the
shame of being the breeding-place
of lawlessness. Last winter, news
papers inimical to prohibition
garrulously complained that Secre
tary Lindlie, while in Bismarcl
fighting for the temperance com
missioner bill, raised no hand tt
stop the lawlessness rampant there
He was there for another purpos,
demanding all his time and energy
But in any case, the most ordinary
common sense would teach the
futility of his attempting, single
handed, to stun the swelling tide
of unblushing lawlessness hefoune
there. The repeated attacks upo1
the life of Captain Moffett, (nov
making an illustrious record fo:
himself in the Philippines), tn,
repeated destruction of Captain
Moffett's property would warn an,
sane man from an attempt 81
manlfestlngly suicidal.
The report of the enforcement
league plainly indicates that wher,
the prohibition law has PROVED
abortive, the fault almost invari
ably lies at the states attorney.
door, and in every case where al
assistant attorney general was APP
pointed the law Immediately be
came effective. This of course il
no news to those who have watched
the fight for law and order in tn,
various counties. The w. G. T
U. has always known it. One o
our good editors construed GU:
expression of dismay atthe passag,
of an ordinance by the city coun
Gil licensing, or if you will, pro
tecting blind pigs, to imply specia
-oore,,ro of ATov,or Sor,pororC NJ