The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-03-09
SURPRISING LAwLESSNESS.

The blind tiger trials that have been
m progress in the Recorders court
this week teach two lessons:
First, that prohibition has not been
enforced In Sumter. that the ordinary
machinery OF the law has been utterly
inadequate and ineffective and has
failed to cope with the Illicit sellers
and their accomplices. the buyers Of
eontrabrand liquor.
Second, that, while there are
enough people here who support the
bllrd tigers and aid and abet them
In Violating the law TO make the traf-
fio so profitable that flfty or more men
have sold liquor. there still exists
healthy public sentiment for the en-
forcement Of law. and that the law
abiding and respectable element Of
the community has not surrendered
to the law-breakers and their SYM
pathizers.
That the city and county officials
have not been able. with the regular
police force and constables in the en-
pIoy Of city and county. to apprehend
the blind tigers or to suppress the IL
ncit traffic in liquor that had attained
magnitude and a notoriety that was
disgraceful and humiliating, was
proven and demonstrated when 1t be-
came necessary TO employ force of
detectives. That the detectives sue
ceeded I'm securing evidence against a
large number of liquor sellers proves
nothing that was not a matter of COM
mon notoriety and general belief The
detectives were employed to collect
evidence and they discharged the duty
they were paid TO perform. They
bought liquor and then went into
court and told where and from whom
they obtained 1t. Hundreds OF citi-
Kens OF Sumter. a majority of whom
claim to be law-abiding men, have
Bought gallons of liquor where the
detectives bought plnts, but they were
not hired TO tell where and from
whom they bought 1t and they have
kept silent The man who patronlzes
blind tiger feels bound by an inn
Piled contract to protect the seller,
therefore the blind tiger fourishes
here and elsewhere and will always
flourish until the sentiment against
the use of liquor and in favor Of the
enforcement OF the law Is so strong
that the blind tiger will have so few
patrons that the business will cease to
be profitable. In this change OF senti-
ment lies the only hope OF the effec-
tive enforcement of prohibition. Il
Is too much TO expect OF human na-
ture to even hope that the man to
whose debased appetite the blind tig-
G panders will inform on che liq-
uor seller. go into court and then tas-
hty 10 facts that will convict the law
breaker. SO long as sentiment re-
mains unrevolutionized the detective
who U)rks Ia secret and gains the evil
dence needed to convict by posing
as an everyday blind tiger patron IS
ihe only hope of bringing :Se t!cfr ~
justice. E&e Lind tiger viii not sci!
TO an officer of the law whom he
knows. nor viii ne cell to any one -
may susrcc of acting for an officer
This Is WY the ordinary machinery
for the enforcement Of law is ineffec-
live and Incapable of coping with the
coalition OF blind tigers and liquor
drinkers. The regular police force be-
Ing ineffective, what is TO be done?
Can the city of Sumter continue TO
employ relays Of detectives to run
down the tigers, and IL detectives are
employed In relays will those employ
ed i'm the future be successful i'm round
ing mp the tigers? y burnt child
breads the fire. and hereafter the H.
licit sellers Of liquor will be more eau
ious and wary and will sell only 10
trustworthy patrons. OF course. =
tiger will hc picked up now and then
ana when brought before a jury OF
aw-rcspecting citizens will be con-
law will not be enforced as il should
be and the buyers and sellers Of liq-
uor will he more closely banded to-
gcther 70 cvade the law and defy
those who would enforce II.
We heartily approve Of what has
been done by Chairman Ligon. Of the
Police Committee, and ne and the
city authorities are 90 be commended
for the results accomplished. The city
IS the better for 70 ana public scntl-
ment has been aroused 10 clearer
and fuller realization Of the magui-