Fergus County argus., 1902-07-18
AS REGARDS GAMBLING.

In the article on gambling last week
our contemporary secs things" and
he is given to seeing things different
from anyone else; he sees them to
suit his own purposes.
II is immaterial to us what con-
struction he places upon our motives
so long as the position of the ARGUS
is consistent upon this question OF
public gambling. Out of pure ig,
norance or with a desire to shield
peace officers of his own political
faith, our contemporary would have
the public believe that we are max,
ing a covert attack on County Attor-
ney Belden from some secret motive
and with apparent surprise, ION the
eve of a political campaign" Now,
there may be a proper time for every.
thing, but there never is a time for
compromise with an outlawed vice,
such as public gambling. If it is Mr..
Belden's moral and official duty to
take the initiative in its suppression
he should proceed at once and hew
to the line, letting the chips" fall
where they may. But according 70
the anti.gambling law itself 1t is far
more incumbent upon the sheriff's
force to suppress gambling than 1t Is
uponthe county attorney. Section 6
of that law reads as follows:
Every sheriff, constable or po-
lice officer shall have author,
ity and it shall be his duty up
on receipt of information that any
house, room, tent or apartment Is be-
ing conducted as a house, room or
apartment for any OF the games men,
toned in this act, to break open any
door or opening into any such house,
room, tent or apartment. with or
without a warrant of arrest. for the
purpose of arresting such offenders of
this act"
What has the Democratic sheriff OF
Fergus county and his several depu'
ties ever done toward the suppression
of gambling? They are peace Off
GERS and as such are daily cognizant
of the infractions of the Jaw. If they
have any desire to do their duty why
don't they act? The law saws: Every
sheriff, constable or police officer
shall have authority and 1t shall be
his duty upon receipt of information,
etc. Does the sheriff hold that he
has to be Informed" when he already
knows that there is gambling? If he
processes ignorance then truly there
are none so blind as those who do not
want to see."
The sheriff of Ravalli county took
the initiative in the suppression OF
gambling. believing it to be his duty
In Missoula county that officer also
regards it as obligatory upon him to
see that the law is enforced, and only
few days ago the sheriff of Lewis and
Clarke county was urged to arrest all
offenders of the law.
Some officers take refuge in the un
warranted assumption that some one
must make complaint" to them be
fore they can proceed. This is false
and puerile, especially when gamb
ling is of general knowledge and un
der the observation of all officers
There is no such intent in the law.
AS will be seen by the above sec
ton the sheriff is especially named
as one upon whom Is devolved th'
duty of acting with or without war
rant OF arrest" Let the sheriff o
this county act and we will guaranteed
that offenders will be prosecuted with
out fear or favor. II the county at
torney is equally responsible then lie
them act in harmony to uphold thu
majesty OF the law. We have M
fears about their being upheld by th'
decent, law-abiding citizens OF Fer
gus county. even upon the eve o
a campaign" II we have reaches
that stage of degradation when w
will condemn an officer and refus
him support by our votes because h
enforces the laws. then the quicke
we revert to savagery the better.
We will say in closing that 1t ha
never been the policy of this pape
to dictate nor anticipate the actio
of a Republican county convention
believing that intelligent men, afte
careful deliberation. will do what !
best for the party and the people I
naming candidates for offlce. In thi
instance, however, to allay any su:
picion that our contemporary ma
have as TO motives and to meet hi
insinuation, II gives us pleasure t