Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-01-08
Gothenburg System.

| SOVA4OA4OA4S ny 0V04A4s
To the Editorials the time draws
near when our legislative body once
more conpenes at its accustomed place
the question naturally arises as to what
changes or what legislation does our
common veal require, What new laws
should be passed? What changes can be
wrought that will ameliorate present
unfavorble conditions?
1t is we'll recognized fact by all dis.
ciplinarians, whether of the home, the
state or the school, that the enactment
of laws or rules that cannot be enforced
by the executive heads thereof is dam
| gerous to The welfare of such institutions
The father of the bone who his boy
that he shall not do those things that he
knows the child will do, and which he
cannot possibly prevent. belittles, his
authority and fosters disobedipnt germ
within the child that cannot but menace
his future career. The teacher who
sternly commands his pupils that they
shall not do those things that he know1
they will do and which he cannot pod
siblY prevent. is not a good disciplid-
arian and never can have the control
of his pupils he might have had, had he
not beggared his authority.
1t is respect and reverence for out
state that makes us good citizens. wa
feel that it is strong, Irresistible power
that binds our own social acts with those
of our fellows in harmonious concord.
1t is the feeling that law is irresistible,
connected with the knowledge that it is
working for our own mutual good that
makes us respect the law and become
law.abiding citizens. However, when
the fact becomes evident that the law is
not irresistible and we see it violated
constantly, openly or otherwise, with
undeniable success, the law of the land
cannot but be h,Hniliated and the smol-
derlng embers OF lawlessness famed by
a.favorable condition connot but menace
our future welfare. g.
1t is not the purpose of the writer in
presenting this to secure u favorable
condition by which he can conveniently
walk up to the bar and fill his sy stem
with alcoholic beverages. The hint that
is given by Shakespeare that "only
fools create new appetites'' suggested
means by which he could realize his
ambition of appearing rs sage among
his fellows.
But when public highways are filled
with Overwhelmingly citizens reeking un-
der the influence OF beverages that were
not given them and which the law most
empha'icallv says shall not be sold
within its boundaries; when the road
sides are literally strwn with empty bot
ties that were bought in town against
the laws of the state; when our depots
become 80 overstocked with kegs and
cases that the platforms have to become
the poor substitutes for ladies' waiting
rooms; when We see misery where the
subordination and humiliation of our
state, and when a steady old state like
Vermont after fifty years Of such condit-
ions has awoke to the fact that some
change must be made, is it not we'll for
us TO take the matter into consideration
with the view of lettering our condit-
ion if possible?
It is true that in one or two of our
eastern counties the prohibition law is
working with some degree of success
But these are exceptions aud not the
general rule. In the whole it is, to SAY
the very least, a decided failure, It
matters not why it is failure. The facts
remain the same that it is so; that our
law is being violated and Inundated in
most shameful manner; that lawless.
ness is being fostered among our citizens
and that viewing the experience of Yer.
mont rs an object lesson we can expect
but very little better Of our present law
in the future. It is very easy for one to
find fault and pick flaws with system
| of government but it is much more
difficult to offe- something better and no
one should do it unless he can do 80.
However, there seems nothing new to
offer. but the dispensarv system now
used in Alabama seems to be q verv
mer'torious one and appears far ahead
of the system we have, as it ia now
working or has ever worked. The Out
look of June fourteenth of this year
contains very good sketch of the sys-
TEN. 1t is already well known, but to
those who have not vet become &C,
qualnted with it short review might
be OF some value. &. ...--a
The system is adopted by local op-
ton INTO cities and towns, The county
commissioners name three men from
whom the town board selects one reli-