The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1908-04-30
tty Hoffman, Of Donnybrook Has Novel Way Of Driv-
ing Blind Pigs Out Of Business Thinks State
Should Control the Business

@ April %, 1903.
S Ward County Independent, Minot,
ssE D.
Isg Dear Sir: It is generally admitted
sthat the prosecutions and convictions
''.resulting from the violation of the
ssiauor law in Ward and other counties
sl.hr oughout the state of North Dakota
scause the respective counties greater
sexpense than one would have reason
Ito expect would be the case in pro-
Inhibition state. And even though the
Irrespective counties continue their
warfare against the Violators OF this
law. it is an open secret that the
nefarious industry OF blind pigslng
and bootlegging is not generally DIM
inishing in extent, but is being carried
on now here now there as the locality
or tho occasion seem favorable, and
Notwithstanding the example OF me
occasional one punished, the eradlcse-
zion of the evil seems as difficult and
Ifar distant as ever. This state Of af-
fairs think argues of two things \
First. that there is a great number Of
people who dare the law and the con on
seouences Of arrest and prosecution
in order to carry ;on their lawless, al
though profitable business, and, sec
ondly. that the people in whose local
it,. this industry is carried on, CON
nive at and rather encourage these
shanty saloons, for it is evident .s'l tnat rsa
were there no customers. the p1gger
could not carry on the business Ana no
it is not fact that only then fs tae
puryeyor of the amber routed, Wnen
the neace is disturbed by some motor
ious uproar? What conclusion other mel
can one draw from the premises, put
thai there is "a large contingent faYor-
able to the procuring Of intnxfc ~ adlns
rnut,rs. Not only does this connlSe lnaE
on the part 81 the people aats the 1' ~
legal liquor traffic SHOW their prefer
erce, hut .tl1ere are many, VINO navihs ..'il'
hecnma acquainted with the WORKINGS
of the .prohibition law nthis stare,
ayowedly favor thG abolition od thaI
law. and amongst those Of THIS lnch- Z
nation win he found many temper rance
advocates as we'll temperate and prae-
tical men of affairs They favor lts
ahnnfion because of its 1mMRctfca-
nifty for while Theoretically North
Dskota is a dry, a prohibition state.
IN truth and in fact It is not and TO
the one seeking to disproEe the al!e-
CATION woald direct him TO inses.ttl- So
cate fhe number OF q. s. internal
revenge liceHses granted to residents
OF this state. Another, PROBABLY dess So
copent. reason is advanced favor1ns
the repeal Of the statute namely Inc
perennial cost Of running down ana
nrosecuting the illegal sale of lntoxi-
cants. And not only Is this cost m
item to he reGk0ned, but 1t is nottc-
eable fact that when convicted, the
v,olater of the law chooses rather to
,while away his sentence Including az
.ditional time for costs In preference
to paying the money fine, all OF which
strikes back, in the form OF taxes, -
the property owner who perhaps
would not be averse to taking g drink 81 Y
himself should an opp rtuihty pre- pre-
sent itself. do not wish to fnsinu~
ate that the prohibition law should
be disregarded even by those who 90
not favor its existence, for as long as
that law remains on the books. It
should be obeyed together with the
Others. / would allow the statement
however, that the people, for whose.
benefit the prohibition law was enact
ed, can work it repeal should they
choose SO to do. In case the present
prohibition law be repealed. what law
would be of best interest ITO be en-
acted in It's place? Aye that is the
question. n. ..s.
High License, say some. Local
option say others. Any law that will
iegalize the sale Of liquors will sat-
isfy a third contigent High license
mas not proven itself in all cases to
be the true solution Of the liquor prob
lem for while that system may. work
satisfactorily in the larger cities
where traffic is congested. in smaller
towns 1t Is not SO practicable, for
there liquor dealer |, is too ~Qftentf
tempted to resort to questionable
means to attract and hold his trade,
necessary to pay his license, among
which might be mentioned the cater
ing to persons intoxicated. These
questionable methods referred to tend
saloon in localities and eventually |
throughout the state that finally caus-
es prohibition vote, In proof Of |
which, witness the recent prohabitton