The Irish standard., 1905-04-22
PRACTICE AND PRErENrIoN.

the people of that state practical
illustration of what an officer who be-
lieves in the enforcement of the laws
can do in the way of effectively enforc-
ing them. Missouri like all other
states has a great many statues in
reference to the enforcement of the
liquor laws, especially as to Sunday
closing, on it's statute books, which no
executive officers have ever attempted
to enforce. The governor of Missouri
has the appointment of police COM
missioners for the larger cities Of that
state: ST. Louis and Kansas City, and
through these officials exercises GER
tain police power which in most states
is exercised entirely by the mayors of
the different cities. For two Sundays
past the saloons of st. Louis and Kan
sas City have been entirely closed, and
SO great has the change been that it
has created a perfect furore and it is
probable that Governor Folk is the
most thoroughly berated man in the
whole country. This brings up an old
subject. 1t is peculiar phase of hui
man nature which will insist upon the
enactment of Sunday closing laws and
for the most part insist upon the elec-
ton of men pledged to Sunday en-
forcement, but which Immediately
upon the election expects executive
officials not to enforce the laws.
There is not a large city in the United
States which for any length of time
would retain in Office man who hon
estly and rigidly enforced Sunday
closing law, and at the same time
there is not a single one of these
cities which would elect man to the
Office of mayor who was pledged to let
the saloons run wide open. The peo-
pie seem to want to vote in favor Of a
man who promises to enforce the law
but who subsequent to his election
breaks his promises and allows the law
to be violated and they will refuse to
vote for either man who honestly at
tempts to enforce the law or for one
who honestly announces before elec-
tion that he will not enforce the law.
In other words the people seem to
want a mere pretense toward enforc-
ing the law and not the actual prac-
tice. 1t Is a peculiar phase of human
nature that is not susceptible of any
rational explanation, but it has been
demonstrated so often that it is be-
yond doubt Men who on election day
vote for the strictest enforcement of
the law are the first ones the day after
the new mayor takes up his duties to
cry out against what they consider
a too strict enforcement. If Governor
Folk succeeds in enforcing the law
and still retains the confidence of the
people he is an exception.
| The real difficulty with municipal
management of the liquor interests is
| to be found in the fact that the legisla
lures of the different states always
contain a majority representing rura
districts. These men, of course, vote
for laws which bear home to theil
communities no oppression, but which
when applied to the crowded center:
of the city work very differently
There is no demand in rural districts
or in small villages for the Sunda!
saloon. The situation is very differen
in the large cities. Consequently
when the people of the cities vote TO
an executive official they do not hav
in mind that the officer Is bound b,
law to enforce the same rules an
regulations in their city with refer
ence to the saloon that is in force II
1 some rural village. And, consequently
! II such an attempt is made the Office
SO attempting becomes at once ur
popular.
/ The question then arises, would
not be much better for people to onl
enact such laws as they are ready an
willing to abide by, rather than t
have laws of one kind on the statut
books and laws Of another kind i
force? Does 1t not breed contempt fo
the law to openly and deliberatel
violate 1t in every day action? Woul