Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-04-21

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GOVERNMENT BLIND PIGS.
The issuance of internal revenue !,
tax receipts by the federal government
for the sale of intoxicating liquors to
parties in states having prohibition
laws is an encouragement to law
breakers, and subjects the government
to the charge Of encouraging blind
pigs. No substantial Roadway can
ever be made towards the enforce
ment OF constitutional prohibition in
North Dakota until congress shall
have passed measure similar to that
introduced by Senator Gallinger, pro-
hibiting the issue Of such tax receipts,
unless the applicant exhibits a license
in accordance with the laws of the
state where such liquor is to be sold.
While the tax receipts issued by the
government is not In reality a permit
or license to sell intoxicating liquors,
and is no protection to the violator OF
the state law, the fact that govern
ment agents and federal officers are
more diHgent and more searching in
their duties than are the average
state ofacers depending upon local
sentiment for their positions, makes
the issuance OF such tax receipts q
hindfance to the enforcement of pro-
hibition. Very few persons will run
the risk OF selling liquor without first
paying the government tax and if the
government would refuse to grant a
3 tax receipt in . prohibition state, pro-
hibftion would be as much of a sue
cess as it is now a fzzle. ",
In nearly every community in the
state of North Dakota there are one
or more government tax receipts is
sued and this is prima facie evidence
that the holder intends to violate the
state law. The Pioneer Press, in an
article on this subject, very aptly de-
claTes 'the moral right Of the federal
government to encourage as it does
this violation Of state laws has been
and is very emphatically questioned:
It is no part of the federal govern
ment's business to assist in the en-
forcement OF state laws; but it is its
business to see that 1t does not foster
breaking. In theory the state
could enforce its law as well as the
government enforces its own, but in
fact no state does SO. Consequently
the undeniable truth is that in giving
its receipt for the sale Of liquors in
prohibition states or districts the gov
eminent licenses laW-breaHng. There
is no use in befogging that unpleasant
fact with technical distinctions. Every
Il one knows that it the blind piggers
were not permitted to pay tax te
do business in prohibition state
mighty few of them would dare to en-
gage in the liquor traffic. This does
{ not go to the question Of whether pro.
Inhibition is the best means Of dealing
R with the liquor traffic but the recita,
OF an unbeatable fact OF the govern.
ment partnership in blind pigs The
Bismarck Tribune does not believe
that state prohibition is the mos
f practical manner Of regulating the use
OF intoxicating liquors but it does be
1ieve that but for the practice Of the
7 government in accepting money fol
tax receipts-a license so far as the
government is concerned prohibition
would prohibit more than it now pro
hibits and blind pigs and boot-legging
Which are the worst forms Of liquo,
traffic would be reduced to Thu
\ minimum in North Dakota