Smyrna times., 1909-11-03
DR.. WATT SCORES POLICE
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE

| ~HN 10" against IHS sale OF 1nCOXl-
cants as beverage? Yes. of course.
but this is not all. He defies> the
will of the majority, and in this in
stance very substantial majority.
for Duck Creek Hundred went dry in
both voting districts by very unusual
maJorities. Now what right has any
man to insolently set himself against
the Will OF vast majority of his fell
low citizens? He may think that the
traffic in whiskey is all right, but a
large majority of his fellow citizens
says it is unlawful. Who is to be
obeyed; the insolent or ignorant man
or the majority? This is what the
keeper of the disreputable thing
called a speakeasy, is up against. 1t
is pretty much of a proposition.
Well, have we any such places in
Smyrna? 1t is so said. Personally.
have no doubt of it. 1t will be ad-
mltted that we have been long suf-
fering hereabouts, but that dav is
gone by. Some folks have acted as
though we were all Sunday School
politicians. They will have oppor-
tunity to discover their mistake. Per-
sOnally, l have kept silent on this
matter, and until very recently have
made no public reference to it. But
from this time on my lips are unseal-
ed. Patience has ceased to be a vir-
tue, for our patience has been abused
and misunderstood
The Determination of Decent PeopIe
" What is the determination of the
decent people of this town? This-to
stamp out this nefarious business by
every lawful means within our power.
We intend to break up this speakeasy
business either by running these dis
reputable people out of our town or
by putting them in Greenbank. They
can take due notice. This is the pro-
gram from now on by the help of God
and the law abiding citizens of Smyr-
ma and vicinity. 1t has been done
to very large extent in other places,
we can do the same here. How can
this be done? In two ways that are
simple and within our reach. First.
let every decent person, whether man
or woman, constitute himself and her
self detective to the extent of fur
nlshing to the proper persons infor-
nation in the nature of suspicion or
proof that will assist in running these
disreputable keepers to cover. You
are under the same obligation as the
minister. The same responsibility
rests on you that rests on me. 1t
ought to be the business of every de-
cent man and woman in Smyrna to
aid in bringing these lawbreakers to
book. Don't say why does not this
or that organization do something,
rather ask why don't l do something?
Stirs Up Smyrna's Police Force
Secondly, the local police force
can, if they will, do much toward
this same end. Some folks seem to
think that the only business of con-
stable or peace officer is to act when
disorder actually occurs or complaint
is actually made. understand that
at least one member of our police
force takes this attitude. Now | want
to saw that my conception of the duty
of an officer is much wider than that.
If any member of this police force
knows of the existence of either a
speakeasy or gambling joint, it is his
duty to act, for every speakeasy
and gambling joint are disorderly
houses and should be broken up. Per-
sonally, l intend to appear before
our town fathers and state my views
on this question. l hope others
will join me. We have a right to
look to our town officers for all the
assistance they can render, and they
ought to be so instructed. If then
they fail to do their duty, the remit
edy is plain and this remedy was
applied in neighboring town.
Less Criticism and More United Work
In conclusion let me say that
the less we indulge in criticisms of
organizations or people the better.
We cannot rid our town of these law
breakers by criticising each other.
We all have work cut out for us. 1t
will cost money to perform it. 1t
cannot be done for nothing. This l
do say, that if all good people will
unite, before the ides of March next
several disrepotable speakeasy keep
ers will be boarding at the expense
of the State. No mans color or
politics will serve as a shield. The
man who thinks this has a rude sur
prise in store. w. intend to resort
to every lawful expedient to put this
business down. If witnesses do not
go straight, there is a remedy for
that, perjury is a grave crime.