The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-09-16
HOUGHTON COUNTY
IN INNOVATION
WILL HAVE AN OFFICIAL TO LOOK
AFTER hABlTUAL DRUNKARDS
hun COUNTY MIGHT DO LIKEWISE
Example Of Our Northern Neighbor Would
Be Great Blessing to Every Part
OF This County.

The Houghton county board of super
visors have made a move that will be
closely watched all over the state. II
is the appointment Of a deputy whose
business H. will be to look up the ha-
bitual drunkards OF the county, post
their names and photographs In every
saloon in the county and use every
other means within the law to drive
out OF the county or cure in some way
the habitual drunkard.
The action was taken at the last
meeting of the Houghton board, a re-
port OF which Is taken from the Han
cock Copper Journal rs follows;
THE habitual drunkard in the cities
and towns of Houghton county, the
man who neglects his family for drink,
will from now on be marked man,
with his picture In each and every sa
loon. store and drug store where liquor
is sold and with his likeness will be q
description Of his personal appearance
so that no mistake can be made.
- 1t was because OF forceful sugges-
tion on the part of Supervisor Rourka
OF Franklin township that this was de-
termiDd upon. AS member of the
poor committee he had often come a.
cross cases In Hancock and Ripley
poor families left destitute by the
father and husband, whose dissi tions
did not permit OF his paying the atten-
tion TO his family that II deserved. He
said that each supervisor was empow.
cred by law TO compel stores and saloon
keepers as we'll as drug stores in his
district prohibiting the sale of liquor
TO men who were habitually drunk.
He said he felt that the board as
whole could advise the sheriff tc ap
point a deputy whose business IL would
be co ferret out each case OK haDitual
drunkenness Ia the county, secure a
photograph Of him as well as descrip-
tion and place those in every liquor
shop in the county. He felt that IL
would be a saving Of expense TO the !
county and that the crime of drunken
ness in this district would, if not elm
mated at least be alleviated 10 a great
extent. Some discussion Of the ques-
tion arose.
rhe opinion Of Prosecutor MacDon-
aid was asked. and he stated that he
felt that the board had the right TO
empower the sheriff TO so delegate one
of his deputies whose sole business il
would be- to seek out those men "who
violated the laws OF God and man.
Supervisor MacNaughton approved OF
MIR Rourkas idea. Mr.. Rourke's
idea i a good one he said and en-.
dorse IT, but ] do not see how we are
going T. ret about ID This seemed
10 be the consensus Of opinion among
the rest Of the board members but they
plunged 70 the task hy secouding the
motion and asking the sheriff ii he
would see that II was enforced Sher
iH Byers replied that he was sheriff of
Houghton county and would do his
duty so long as he remained So He
thought II was a good scheme. but said
.ha' IL would be necessary TO put a
nan at il all the time to arrive AT good
.esults. q"
All who have heard OF the move ap-
prove IL and the remark is freely made :.
hat Iron codnty could well afford TO
ollow In the lead of Houghton county 4
This county is cursed with "A lot OF 1
elbows who ars habitual drunkards 4
They spend most of their time in the 4
ounty Jail 40 that the county has to 1
'eep them anyway and pay man TO Il
tay around with them. If the sheriff II
I the comfy could be emf wei Q / to L
ppoint such a deputy and see to Il |,
hat one is appointed who will give il II
is attention this county would be rid Il
2 lot OF these drunks Again. many q
~ many family in this county is 2.
estitute today because OF the habltual 2s
OF the father Untold good "a
ould be accomplished If the board OF "a
lis county would make similar 90
love but 1t must oe constructions 81
ove not make job for some good 2s
'llow but get man who is interested 90
the work and who will work fear 80
ssly to bring about good. 81
" oo
The Iron county fair viii De big oo
fair this year. The Agricultural So . !,