Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-02-10

M. H. K1FF, the Tower City pro
hibitionist. presents some arguments tt
the Fargo Forum against the passage Of
the temperance commissioner bill. The
arguments advanced by Mr.. Kitf are
those that are ev%idcnt-that where the
law is enforced there is no need of a com
missioner and where the sentiment is moi
in favor of the enforcement of the law
the commissioner would prove IL source
of expense, from which there would be
nc result. Mr.. Kiff says:
l herewith present several objections
to it becoming Il statute law of this state
l do not believe it will be u success, no1
do | believe there is any call for such a
law in our state.
First The state of Maine has had Il
prohibition law for nearly half a century,
They have tried nearly every means that
thought could devise to enforce it. Sew
cral years ago they enacted what was
known as Il c%onstabulary law. 1t pro
vidcd that the governor could appoint
special constables, whose duty it was to
proceed to any section or part of the
state and enforce the violation of the
prohibitory law, provided the local au-
thOritics refused or neglected to do so.
When this law went into effect, many of
the counties had good, true, loyal Of
iicers, and the violation of this law was
very small. These same officials de-
pended upon the state constables and
soon there became a very noticeable in
efficiency among such officers as sheriff
and district attorneys. 1t took the re-
sponsibility off the local officials and
many were glad, because when Il law
breaker is brought to justice for the vio-
lation of the prohibition law, the officer
who has simply done his duty gets the
everlasting cnmity of the whole gang of
law breakers.
Maine repealed her state constable law
and now depends on the regularly
elected state officials to enforce her
laws. Names experience ought to be
worth something.
Kansas has tried a similar law and at
the present time is suffering from it's
reinforcement character.
Second believe that North Dakota
has already enough laws on her statute
books for the enforcement of the law.
We don't need more laws, but need men
to fill our offices who will use the law
we already have. If all the people over
the state would act sensible and elect
such men for sheriff and district attor-
ney as Cass county now has, the blind
piggers and boot-lcgggers would have a
rocky road to travel and we would hear
but little about temperance commission
ers.
Third-.As a citizen of North Dakota
| object to have the whole nation to
know we have lost faith in civil govern
ment and the execution of our statute
laws, and cannot trust our duly elected
officials to enforce our laws. If l was
sheriff of any of our counties and a law
of this kind was put upon our statute
books. l would immediately tender nv
resignation.
Fourth-We have no $1,000 and other
expenses to squandcr at the present
time, and taxes are just about as high
as we can endure. For heavens sake
don't enact any law that will burden us
any more, but do something to relieve
us of some of the load we are now car
rying,
Fifth-1f we were asked to present
something that would assist in the en-
torcement of our prohibitory law. /
would advise this. Make the visiting of
blind pigs a crime, and the same
punishment for the otfense as running
the blind pig business. This would
bring some so-called respectable citizens
to an understanding that the accessorvto
crime the violation of law is as
guilty as tho principal in law breaking.