The Irish standard., 1905-11-04
ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW.

The order of Mayor Jones directing
all saloons In Minneapolis to be closed
upon Sunday ought not to come as a
surprise. If we had been accustomed
in this city to giving the same weight
to political promises of men that we
unhesitatingly give to their business
promises there would have been moth
ing else TO expect at the hands of the
present administration from the start.
From the standpoint of honesty in
politics Mr.. Jones' rather tardy action
is creditable TO him. The people who
voted for him were given to UNDER
stana either directly or by inference
that he would insist upon strict OBJ
servance of the liquor laws. People
have a right to have their wishes re-
spected when those wishes are In the
direction of the enforcement of law.
The only reason that can be given for
the non-enforcement of the liquor laws
in the past in Minneapolis is that the
maj )rity of the people did not wish
a plurality Of the votes, small indeed,
but yet a plurality. There can be no
just cause for complaint from any
quarter as the present Mayor was
elected squarely upon the issue in
VOlVed in the new order
From another standpoint the Mayors
action Is praiseworthy. He now as
sumes his rightful responsibility in
dealing with the saloon question. For
some months past private individuals
have taken upon themselves the BUSH
ness Of Furnishing saloon keepers OF
Minneapolis for the infraction of the
Sunday closing law. They had no au-
thority from the mass Of the people.
Their acts were purely the acts of
private individuals. No matter how
praise worthy their motives their acts,
nevertheless. savored of meddlesome
Interference with the business of
others. When in any community in
|dividuals take it upon themselves to
enforce the law. such action Is al
ways conducive to disorder. Law
should be enforced through the regu-
larry constituted channels. When one
individual takes the initiative in pun
fishing some other individual for an
infraction Of penal law, especially
where that infracuon Of law does not
directly concern the moving party, the
result is almost always more lawless-
ness. The enforcement Of the Sunday
closing law at the hands of the regu-
larly constituted police force of the
city will be UNNECESSARILY more credi-
table to our city than an ineffective
attempt to do so by spying and deceit.
We are not among those who are
sure that the closing of the saloons
upon Sunday in the city of Minneapo-
lis will mean the consumption of less
liquor or the prevalence of less
drunkenness. The very fact that 1t
will be harder for those who desire
liquor to obtain it will make them all
the more determined to get 1t. Such
people wiz either provide themselves
with supply in bulk on Saturday to
keep them until Monday or they will
go to the trouble of going to st. Paul
or elsewhere to obtain it. The person
who buys liquor in bulk to supply a
dry period is almost sure to use more
of it than he would IL 1t were easily
obtainable and the person who would
go to such lengths as taking train or
car and travelling several miles will
no doubt reason that he ought to take
on good supply before returning
home. The probability is that the
only interests that will be benefited
by strict enforcement Of the closing
order will be the street-car company
and the saloonkeepers of st. Paul.
1t should not be understood that we
are apologists for the saloon inter-
ests. The day has gone by when Sc
rious argument can be advanced in