The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1905-12-08
EFFlCACYOF THE "vAG" LAW

Aey BelleId1S uepdfCmenI wal
about to take a hand in the en-.
forcement of some of the laws Of
the state that seem, of late, in many
parts of the state to have been dis.
regarded. The conditions Incl.
dent to extensive new railroad
building and establishing of new
towns in the northern part of the
state and the annual influx of non.
residents in the harvest fields Of
the eastern and central portions Of
the state have become SO lawless
that complaints to the authorities.
and especially to the legal depart
ments of murders, shooting scrapes
and other crimes have been numer-
Gus and urgent.
One cannot but be impressed,
after reading the newspapers of
the state, with the number of hold
ups, petty thieving, stock stealing,
blind pigging and tin-horn gamb-
ling and other crimes being COM
mitted. Local authorities as we'll
as state are, and should be, taking
action to rid all communities of
undesirable and disreputable para
sites.
While The LEADER has never
been an advocate Of prohibition as
a means of dealing with the liquor
evil and has believed that with
high license under strict regula-
tions and local option, the bust
ness could be better controlled, we
do oppose the various forms of
blind-pigging and the disreputable
resorts that are harboring undesi-
rable misunderstanding places
for crime and lawlessness.
Every section of the state should
be purged of all lawless and DISC
Lutte characters and the vigilance of
the local authorities should prevent
the necessity of action on the part
of the state authorities, and it be-
hooves every citizen, for the good
of the state, the county and his
own home to take a united and &C.
t1e stand against all manner of
lawlessness.
Recourse to the prohibition law
is not absolutely necessary to a
speedy radiance of disreputable
characters, gamblers and irrespon-
sible parties. The vagrancy law
of 1908 is a dragnet easy Of enforce
ment and swift in it's execution.
Under it there is no excuse for
any community tolerating a class
of leeches inimical to good morals
and dangerous to organized society.
That our readers may understand
the provisions of the new "vag''
law it is quoted herewith:
l.. Tdgyancy Detmed.-All per-
sons who are idle and disolute,
and who go about begging;a all per
sons who use any juggling or other
unlawful games or plays; runaways;
pilferers; confidence men; common
drunkards; common night walkers;
lewd, wanton and lascivious per-
sons in speech or behavior; COM
mon railers and brawlers; perrons
who are habitually neglectful of
their employment or their calling,
and do not lawfully provide for
themselves, or for the support of
their families; and all persons who
are idle or dissolute, and who neg
lects all lawful business, and who
habitually misspend their time by
frequenting houses of ill-fame,
gambling houses or tippling shops;
all persons lodging in, or found in
the nighttime in out-houses, sheds
barns or unoccupied buildings, or
lodging in the open air, and not
giving a. good account Of them
selves, and all persons who. are
thieves, burglars, or pick
pockets, either by their own com
fession or otherwise, or having
been convicted of larceny, burgla-
ry, or other crimes against the laws
of the state, punishable by inn
.prisonment in the state prison, or