The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-05-23
Enforeg tba slstdte
Mayor Very Emphatic

From Fridays Daily.
Law Enforcement" was the sub
ject of the paper and discussion by,
the Presbyterian brotherhood last
night Before the program the gentle
men about 40 in number enjoyed, sup
per. together in the church. dining.
room. The ladies' of the fourth divi-
sion served the meal. which was an
excellent one, Mayor Meyer was a.
guest at supper.
A short business meeting followed
the supper and President c. H.,
Cooper, who has been elected presi-
dent of the brotherhood for next
year outlined briefly the plan he
has for the years work. He said
that he hoped to hold six weekday
meeting and six Sunday evening
meetings as was done this year. but
that he hoped to find some plan OF
interesting more men in the meet
ings in order to have larger attend
aHee. He did not consider the at
tendance worthy of the excellent pa
pers and talks which are given by
the members.
Paper BY Mr.. Phillips.
Attorney c. f. Phillips read the
paper. He dealt particularly with
the enforcement of the liquor and
cigaret laws He said: Law en-
forcement comes under two heads.
detection of crime, apprehension OF
criminal, swearing out the complaint
and then punishment of the offender
In matters pertaining to property
rights or personal rights there. is
little complaint of the laws not be-
ing enforced, but that is not so in
regard to the liquor and cigaret laws.
Many people who are opposed to
ciearets and the liquor traffic sim
cerely believe that these, laws can
not be enforced, and therefore vote
for license.
Several states have special de
partments whose business is to Ell.
force these laws, and that seems the
most satisfactory way to handle the
situation The men who are in the
liquor business are very often mes
Ol
the community and people hesitate
to bring action against them. Violc
tons of the liquor and cigaret laws
are looked upon. by many people as
q joke. These violations are usually
carefully planned and deliberate. 1t
is open defiance and not excusable
on the grounds that it was done in
the heat of passion or in ignorance.
Thieves and criminals of that kind
are usually men of poor and miser-
able character. but the saloon men
are of standing in the community
and have families of standing.
1T is not surprising that officials
hesitate to bring charges against
them and many. executives are in
f1uenced by their desire for reelec
ton. 80
Could Relieve Local Authorities.
"A state commission for law en-
forcement empowered as ! sheriffs
with deputies throughout the state
who also have powers of sheriffs
could in a large measure relieve the
III SOHlc vi JIiSii
duties in the way of this kind o.
law enforcement. A state. police
force or constabulary could be ere
ated to handle this part of law en-
forcement There are state com
missions in charge of banks, game
and fish, insurance and so forth, ant
there could we'll be one to. regulate
this
Judge Lofin Cray, who presided
opened the discussion of the. paper
by a brief talk, and said that HI
had never heard such braZen false
hoods sworn to in any cases as ID
those. concerning the violation O
liquor laws. Laws regulating thu
sale of groceries and such commodi
ties will not answer for the contro
of the liquor business. 1t is nc
the courts that are at fault as muc'
as it is a misdirected public senti
pient. Ii is. difficult to enforce law
when a large per cent of the peopl
are opposed to- their enforcement"
Liquor Laws in Canada.
SeVeIdl ptOpic SpOho VI Inc tH
forcing of the liquor laws in Canad
and DIR. j. A. Hancock brought on
another phase Of the matter. III
said: The social standards regarG
ing drinking liquors are not as hig
as some of us think they ought +
be- Teaching of temperance ha
been made n. part of the work @
the public schools. but the. method
have not been effective. The metf
cd ought to be left to the publ
schools themselves to decide"
J. r. BrandrHp said that publ
sentiment must be back of law, Ell
forcement. He said further: 81 b.
lieVe that we as an sorganiZatio
shonld do what we can to assist
law enforcement. 1 believe that til
city attorney intends to enforce til
laws and that it is the intention {
the mayor to enforce the Law
and We should give them a
The encouragement we cam I'll
people who are opposed. to la
enforcement work together for the
cause and We should be just as 10
al to our side of the cause"
Walter Sanborn suggested that
the enforcement of the liquor Law
was put in the. hands. of federal a