Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1906-07-13
ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW.

ed before the County Commissioners some
weeks ago and requested them to pay man
for doing police duty ON the Conduit Road
on Sundays. The Commissioners did not
look With favor on this proposition at first,
but after Mr.. Peter had given his reasons at
length, the Commissioners granted his re-
quest T. Following lie the argument made
by Mr.. Peter:
Mr.. President and Members of the Board:
lappear before you to renew my request
Tor an appropriation to do what We can to
suppress the open violation OF the law in
this county. In stating my reasons why
this money should be appropriated al this
time, think 1t only right and proper that
should state to the Board my views upon
the violation Of certain laws In this county.
For many years after the local option law
was passed II was violated secretly and prose-
cutlons were few. Not long ago the law was
violated from one end OF the county to the
other. There were many prosecutions, many
convictions and many fnes, but the business
still fourished. The law has been amended
twice, eachatime making the penalty more
severe. The fact that the law has been made
more stringent shows the sentiment of the
people of this county In regard to 1t. 1t
shows clearly that the people desire to break
up the liquor traffic In the county. The
local option law, the law against gaming,
the law against laboring on Sunday, to tie
erte't Of maintaining nuisance, by provid-
ing all kinds Of amusements, are openly VIC.
lated on the Conduit Road. The result OF
all this is to bring thousands Of persons from
washington out on this road on Sundays.
4 finnao h.. NhAnoanA
are there. With this vast concourse of peo-
pie, and no officers, what is the necessary
resutP There must be more or less viola
ton Of law. The enormous profits made by
the sale Of intoxicating liquors, the enor-
nous tpll taken In at the gambling houses
and elarge crowds going there, have made
this resort for speak easies and gambling
houses. There Is no doubt that things are
In better condition on this road than form
erly, which, attribute, In great measure,
to the amendment Of the local option law
In 1904.
heard thai the law was being openly
violated and took the trouble to go to
Cabin John Bridge to ascertain the facts for
myself. When arrived there found per-
sons being served at many tables with in
toxicating Liquors. walked through the
grounds and found the merry go round,
shooting galleries and other such amuse-
ments running. When l returned, con-
ferred with the sheriff and we decided that
there was but one thing to do to stop this
open violation Of the law, and that was to
keep an officer there every Sunday. Mr..
Colt has consented to keep a man there, and
your Honorable Board is requested to allow
and pay $6 Sunday to the man sent there.
The very fact that certain persons who
have been violating the law for years are
still doing it, shows that either by geograph-
ica location, graft or peculiar influence they
are harder to reach than the great number
who quilt the business. The open and no.
torious violation of any law, whether 1t Ia
mere police regulation of thing not moral
ly wrong, or the prohibition of thing that
Is wrong In itself under all circumstances, Is
a great evil in any community. II a man OF
a criminal disposition sees another violating
the law with impunitY, he will do the same
when 1t Ia conducive TO his interest. do
not believe the great body of the people
think 1t right that any law should be vio-
lated. There are many persons who are
heartily in sympathy with the law-breaker.
They form q distinct class, and 1t ID quite
numerous one. / will not say this class OF
people are criminal at heart. bat their prin-
cipes are wrong and SAVIOR OF anarchy, and
II would be but short step for them to VIC
late the law If self.interest required 1t. The
man who defends crime Is the worst enemy
This country has. l beseech you not to al
low anything said by members of this class
TO influence your action.
Now, the most familiar argument used in
The defence of the violation OF police regu-
ations Ia that brings money into this coun-
Ly. Nothing Is more commendable than the
honest acquisition of wealth by industry and
thrift, 1t is right that every man has and is
safely guarded by thclaw. "But,a dls''"";'
lion must be taken between the different
modes of acquisition. The highwayman
engages In his business with view TO &C
quIre property, but the trouble Is, that his
methods OF acquisition are open TO objec-
lions. The same Is true Of the gambler and
lottery dealer. Some business men have
been known in their zeal TO acquire prop.
erty, TO use false weights and measures, but
The law lays Its hand on the method they
employ" The law lays Its hand on the
LIQUOR traffic In the county, on working on
Sunday, on selling goods, wares and mer'
chaudise on Sunday.
The thing the people of this county must
DO is TO cease drawing too fine distinctions
between different grades of crime. Ii every
man has friend who Is violating some law
and he feels II his duty 10 protect him, then
A system of general protection against pun.
sbment Is organized. Persons who live In
ulass houses cannot afford 10 throw many
stones. The merchant who is selling goods
On Sunday will not prosecute the liquor
dealer or the owner of gambling house.
This is a thoroughly practical world. a
law without substantial public sentiment
behind it does not require an act Of the Leg
islature to repeal 1t. II 10 dead. The prose-
cution Of the violators Of some laws is not
backed by public sentiment and II Is the
fayorite practice OF the habltual maleiactors,
when prosecuted, to call attention TO the
of such laws. AS an Illustration,
when the amusement resorts were prose
cnted. the men 10 control of them began TO
swear oat warrants Tor merchants selling
goods GA Sunday. | met them more than
Ialf way and gave them TO undereta1d that
woud prosecute persons selling goods a
sunda5 20 the full eEls3t0f tae isN IAeM
dea abat ibe people Of the county would
arise in ingir wrath and seek 10 protect 4sean
eooD vanished, a COnsumUafl 1IBatsr Of
sophistry cannot convince an5 coz mat be-
cause one criminal is not punished. here
lore another should not be. Two wrongs do
not make right. II may be argued that
certain public officials are not impartial and
that they should be prosecuted. And that
has been the stand have taken. When l
nave been criticised for my official acts l
have always suggested that there are two
effective ways TO attack me, II have done
wrong. Try me for malfeasance In office or
resort 10 the public press. AS l have said there
are some laws on the Statute Books which
nave not public sentiment behind their en-
orcement, and know that cannot create
\ public sentiment 10 favor OF them.
While have received much advice as TO
what constitutes my official duty from per-
IONS who are violating the law and their
many friends, the only suggestion from them
which have consistenty acted upon Is in
regard to these laws which do not seem to
have public sentiment behind them. Their
advice was to stay in my office and simply
prosecute the cases brought before me, and
his have done, when did not believe pub
lie sentiment was behind the prosecute on.
believe know how far the public will go in
he prosecution OF most offences; and as long
Is hold this Office no man will ever call on me
in vain IN nroaacu tn ana criminal offence, but