Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1900-09-21
UNFAIR REPORTS.
Editor Jewell Corrects Unfair Reports
Of the Attitude of Slope States
Attorneys.
Cases Properly Brought for Violation
Of Prohibition Law Will be
Pushed.


to the effect that they would refuse to
proceed against any of those who ware
openly violating the prohibition law OF
the state. Secretary NJ. H. Jewell CT
the republican state central committee
says that as far as the states attorney
of Burleigh county is concerned that
he speaks advisedly when he says that
when information is properly filed
against any pigger with the states at
torney of Burleigh county that the
case will be pushed just as vigorously
as In any county in the state and that
as far as the states attorney is con-
cerned there is no effort to protect the
%violators Of the law. Mr.. Jewell says
that in his opinion the same is true of
the county attorneys of the other slope
counties, and that any time that the in
formation is filed in a proper manner
and sufficient evidence furnished to
warrant a prosecution, the necessary
steps will be taken to have the Offend
ers dealt with according to law.
Regarding the wholesale prosecu-
lions instituted by outside parties he
says that public sentiment is against
piling up expenses on the counties
where the evidence is not sufficient to
secure a conviction, and that for that
reason the recent decision of Judge
Winchester would meet with the ap-
prevail of the majority of the people of
his district.
In this connection another party
from the slope said yesterday: "The
people of the valley counties do not ap-
preciate the conditions that exist in
the slope counties. Public sentiment
at the present time favors the sale of
liquor, and it is very difficult to secure
a jury that will convict a. pigger no
matter how conclusive the evidence
may be against him. For this rea-
son the majority Of the states attor-
neys are not looking around for evil
dence for the reason that in nearly ev-
cry case it would beimpossible to Sc
cure a conviction. and the only result
would be the piling up of expenses to
the counties which would form the
basis of most vigorous kicks on the
part of the taxpayers who would have
to foot the bills"
In this same connection Secretary
Jewell says that there seems to be a
general impression in some quarters
that the combine that nominated the
state ticket at the convention held in
this city is in favor Of resubmission
and will work to that end. This he
states is a false idea, and that as far
as the republican leaders of the slope
counties are concerned there will never
be a move made for resubmission un-
til 1t is made by the prohibitionists
themselves, who may at some future
time determine that a high license law
would operate more successfully than
the present prohibition law, and give
nor general satisfaction both to the
liquor and anti-liquor elements. Mr..
Jewell says furthermore that the senti-
ment in favor of enforcing the present
law is growing stronger every day in
the slope counties. Not that the law
is growing any more popular necessar-
Ivy, but on general principles, the idea
being entertained by many that as long
as the law is on the statute books of
the state it should be strictly enforced.
An official from one of the slope
counties who was in the city a few
days ago said that another fact that
was not appreciated by the people of
this section Of the state, where public
sentiment was overwhelmingly in favor
OF the strict enforcement of the law,
was that the liquor sellers on the slope
were not of the class that engaged in
the traffic in the valley counties. In
the northern part of the state. in the
valley counties it is considered a dis
reputable business to sell liquor con-
trary ito law and with out very few ex-
ceptions those who engage in it are OF
a very shady class, and belong either
to the floating population or to people
who have no interests in the commun-
ity where they operate. On the slope
the conditions are different. People
are in the business who have large
property interests and who are consid-
cred as respectable as any citizens in
the state. For this reason it can cas-
lily be seen why 1t is so difficult in
many cases to secure a conviction. He
said but a short time ago a man was
arrested for pigging in his home town.
The man arrested was one of the most
prominent men in the town and was
the owner of the best business blocks
In the place. The evidence against
him was conclusive but the jury re-
turned a verdict of mot guilty." not
because he wasn't guilty but for the
ar