The Caucasian., 1911-06-13
THE LIQUOR LICENSE
A Report Which May Be Viewed Sc
-Riously-A Grasping at StraWs by
Some of the SalOOniteS.

SOIEle OI lIle Sd1OUu1lcS.
The Caucasian has no intention OF
reviving or reviewing the contest
which closed on the night of June
when the Pros by majority of 4e
defeated the saloons, after the most
strenuOusly aggravating campaign
of about six weeks ever engaged in
in Caddo parish.
Since this election Judge Bell of
the District Court has sustained the
plea by Hon. NJ. C. Elstner that the
city is without authority to enforce
its ordinance against offenders for
selling intoxicants, for the reason
that this ordinance was not signed
by the mayor when it was enacted
or promulgated officially, and there
fore is null and void.
Since this is a fact, which can not
be disputed by the record, the city
for the time being is without au-
thority in such cases, but yet, all
such infractions of the law are
within the reach of the State for
which fines and imprisQnments may
be exaeted on the conviction of the
guilty.
It is needless at this time to waste
space or time in discussing or ex-
planning how such carelessness or
recklessness was possible on the
part of any official but whether the
failure to sign such ordinance was
through neglect, inadvertence or
wilfully, can not relieve response
bility for an act which is almost
equivalent to a crime.
As reported on the authority Of
the Times, a petition is to be cireu-
lated for the signature of qualified
voters of Shreveport, the purpose of
which is to have the City Commits
sioners order an election at which
the issue is to be For or Against the
re-enactment of the ordinance
which is imperative, as 1t has not
the approving signature Of the
mayor.
The scheme, as presented, is that
if this or a similar ordinance re-
ceived the endorsement of the ma
jority voting at this election, the
city would be vested with legal au-
thority to impose penalty and fines
for the violation of the prohibition
law, but, if otherwise. it would be
powerless TO enforce such enact
ment although the State could not
be relieved or be deprived of such
authority in the enforcement of the
law against such law-breakers.
Let sane men, Ants or Pros, if
they be law-abiding citizens, reflect
for moment and ponder over the
contention and the antagonisms that
would arise from such an extraordi-
nary condition.
It would be on the order of an
archy, and who could foretell the
end?
Let no man be deceived into the
belief that the laW-ibiding citizens
would long tolerate such proceed
ings. Indeed, their vigilance would
become accentuated and there would
follow resentment and in time a
revulsion which would bode no good
to any interests SO audacious as to
force, if it were possible, on a law
abiding community this wilful de-
fiance of law and common decency.
This much is said for the benefit
Of some of our friends who are
seemingly alarmed unnecessarily,
but it may be wise to keep an eye on
this grasping at straWs. And let it
be borne in mind that a re-enact-
ment of the ordinance or one re-
spending to present needs can be
passed by the City Council and
signed and promulgated within sixty
DAYS, and in the interim the State
will reach all the offenders that can
be convicted, and therefore another
agitation by the Antis and the Pros
| is unnecessary, undesirable and
should be avoided.
And as we keep cool, conservative
and considerate, we would offer
few words of caution to some OF the
over-zealous who are ready to re-
open the issue of the saloon. In their
| over-zeal these should not forge
that hundreds of the good citizens
who voted for License and Regula-
ton would not approve any scheme
which would operate a discredit o
this city nor predetermined de-
fance of the law.