The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-04-05
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

II any law, ana especially any nv"
law is violated with impunity, that
law is brought into disrepute. When
men. by experience, find they
can. by being devilish sly, violate a
law over and over again, without be-
ing caught, they will take the chances
OF violating it as business, hoping
never to be caught. The time to prove
\ law effective, is when 1t first be-
comes a law, or when 1t is tirst at
tackled.
The time to make prohibition pro-
hibit, in this town and county, Is now.
Mayor Guest is under promise 10
himself and the people, that II neeo
be, he will appoint private detective
mon to help the police get the PROOF
against violators OF the law against
selling intoxicating drinks In TINS
town What is the Mayor waiting FOR!
why don't he give his police the help
they need right now? They know they
need IT. The City Marshal will tell
him that he believes, and has goou
reason to believe, that the law Is pe-
inc violated every day, but as yet ne
has been unable to get the PROOF upon
.ho offenders. Why wait for these Oh
tenders to become entrenched IN tnelr
law breaking? Why not go aIter tneln
hammer and tongs now? why wall
for the fire to become confiagrauon'
why not put it out while it Is YET
little flame?
The trouble we are having here in
Columbia is the same trouble they
have everywhere, and that Is the
trouble of arousing the officials OF the
town to determination to enforce
the law at all hazards and despite all
difficulties. If the City Marshal needs
secret service men to help him, send
to Nashville or New York and get the
best there is and put out the hre
If any new ordinances are needed
call the Board together and pass them
The penalty for public drunkenness
for instance, should be heavier than
1t is; and every man seen drunk on
the streets should be arrested, ana !
fined. and made to explain minuteiy
where he got his whiskey; and II ne
lies about 1t. It should be made the
official duty OF the Mayor, or RECORD
er, of City Attorney, to prosecute him
for perjury
Not a bit of trouble in making this
prohibitory law prohibits II all the
officers, state, county and corpora
ton, will get busy and try. And we
repeat, II the law does not prohibit 1t
is the fault, not of the law, but OF
some of the officials; and whoever |
they are, 1t matters not who, their
heads should come of at the next cleo
ton.
The Sheriff and his deputies, the
Mayor and city police can make II
so uncomfortable for the boot-legger
that he will HE himself to some more
cline. Some men have no
scruples about violat-
ing any law, human or divine; but no
man wants to run up against law
enforcing band of officers. They DO
not inquire of their conscience. is this
the law, and should | violate 1t; but
thew ask themselves the question,
"how about the cops; will they wink
the other eye, or have they confeder-
ates without uniform who will steer
me- m against the real thing, work
house sentence?" Law breakers are
,low To invade law enforcement com
nunity. And the reason is plain;
There are so many communities where
he law is not enforced
Not only should the officers in dead
earnest enforce the law, but every
rood citizen should help them. Every
over of law and temperance and good
rider. should be in a sense, private
they should keep their eyes
nd ears open, and report to the Of II
GERS every suspicious act or circum-
lance they see or hear. Why notY