The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1909-02-27

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enactment of the prohibitory law
the fight is not ended. The oppo-
sition dies hard. Those who favor
ed and profited by the traffic are
always watchful and active and
voluble to discredit the law, and
impede its enforcement. The for
eign wholesale whisky dealers are.
strong. wealthy, resourceful and
organized. The same houses that
flooded our State with G o D.
liquor, called whisky but drugged,
it is said, with cocaine or other
damnable concoctions that incite to
lust. are still watching for their
opportunities. There is yet in evil
dence in the United States court
the buttons with pictures of semi
nude white women which some of
these soliciting agents gave way
with every bottle of whisky bought
by negroes. These dealers are only
waiting to see if Congress will sup
plement our statutes with effective
prohibitory acts. They will bear
close watching.
4. A practical reason why a Law
Enforcement League is needed in
every city and town is that it will
place behind every prosecution and
crusade responsible body of men.
The remedies given by law for pun
ishing or penalizing the guilty
should not be left in irresponsible
hands. Not infrequently private
malice or a spirit of revenge is be-
hind a prosecution. Public officers
charged with the responsible duty
of bringing suits for penalties
wishing to be just to the defendant
as we'll as faithful to the public,
willing to prosecute but not perse
cute-will be far more willing to
allow such suits to be brought in
their names, or in the name of the
State, county, or city, when they
know that behind them is an organ
ization. composed of the best citi-
zens of the place. For instance,
the Goveror, the Attorney General,
the District Attorney, the State
Revenue Agent, the Board of Sup
ervisors or Board of Aldermen
would not decline to allow suit for
the penalties of the law to be
brought if assured by a Law En-
forcement League that sufficient
evidence of violation of the law
had been found. Yet they might
we'll hesitate to give such permis-
sion to one individual.
5. Law Enforcement Leagues can
do much to keep the people inform
ed as to the law as to certain
crimes and the effective remedies.
All are presumed to know the law.
Few in fact do know it.. The laws
in force are ample and the reme-
dies are fairly adequate. But many
special remedies are from time to
time given which are not generally
known. To illustrate: 1t is singu-
lar how many men, even officers,
we find who do not know of, or do |
not appreciate the effectiveness of,
the law authorizing searches and
seizures of intoxicating liquors.
The same was true of the remedy |
by attachment without bond in the
name of the State, county and city
for the penalty of $500 each for
violating any of the provisions of |
the chapter on dram shops. 1t is
singular how few realize that the
lessor of house who has reason to
believe that liquors are sold in it |
and fails to give information there
of is liable to fine and imprison-
ment, and proof of unlawful sale
therein is presumptive evidence of |
his guilt.
6. But the highest and noblest |
object of Law Enforcement |
League is to instil respect for the
majesty of law. If any man on
earth should respect and honor the
law it is the American citizen.
The law is not the will of despot |
imposed upon him. The laws are
his laws, made by him through his
chosen representatives. They speak |
the composite will of all good citi-
zens. There is nothing cruel or
vindictive IN the enforcement of |
law. There is an element of mercy
in the administration of justice.
The Duke of Wellington once said !:
Talk of punishment being in
human. There is nothing so in
human as lmpunity.' And Ed
mund Burke once said: 1t is not |
the day of judgment that | fear but |
the day of no judgment. )" The
supremacy of law cannot be main
tanned unless every statute is en-
forced. No man should dare to be
wiser than the law. The will of |
none should prevail against the
combined will of all. Doubt as to |
the wisdom of law should never
tempt to it's disobedience.
1t is sadly true that there is to
be found in many places in our
State spirit of lawlessness, either
open defiance of law or lack Of |
reverence for its majesty. The |
time has come when we should |
boast less of our laws; when we
should talk less of our rights and
ponder more our duties Our leg
islators have made for US wise laws
in the effort to protect and pre-
serve our people from the crimes