The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-11-15
PROSECUTION AND PERSECUTION. .

PROSECUTION AND PERSECUTION.
Six months of commission form of government and
eight saloons That is not bad record The city
revenue reduced by $4,000 year, and II other
saloons violate law they will lose their licenses and
the city will be cut just 81 900 year on each
that the commissioners shall take away When
the council revokes license no is to be is
sued in its place.
The commissioners to be commended for their
course in enforcing the law. We should all stand for
law enforcement and should support every reason
able means that the commissioners employ to COM
pei respect for the law Revocation of licenses is one
way to punish saloon who violate the liquor laws
While The Labor World is not fully familiar with the
connected with all of the eight licenses that have
been revoked. know from the general reputation OF
some of the eight saloons that mistake was made
particular saloonkeepers should not have
been given licenses in the first instance
One would think that after the commissioners had
revoked many licenses saloon man would take
chance at violating the law. This brings out the
thought: Would it be better if the commissioners
fully investigated the character and reputation OF app
for saloon licenses at the time when their app
cations before the council and deny them to men
who do not measure up to the commissions standard,
rather than issue licenses to of questionable
character only to revoke them when they shall have
done their mischief Possibly the commissioners have
this in mind, many of the licenses running were
issued by the former government, but the Buchanan
Hogan license granted since the present commits
sioners took Office
In any event recognize that if saloonkeepers will
comply the they should lose their licenses
The commissions policy is pretty we'll defined; the
saloon understand it. and the grave danger
will arise from frameups and police persecution. I'm
der the saloon code recently approved by the people
there is every chance for honest prosecution to be
harassed by malicious fanatic persecution. Commits
soner Hicken time in reprinanding the patrol
man, who the other day induced minor to buy beer
from Italian saloonkeeper. The saloon man was the
victim frame-up and had the minor not weakened
told the truth he probably would have lost his
license would be the polceman's word against
the saoonkeeper, and the court usually believes the
police.
There is no trial by jury for violating Hicken
The court is the sole arbter of the facts The
city witnesses usually the police professional wit
likely to be caoused in giving testimony with
of simple justice due the nature of their
bounding work, sadly shattered. 1t is wholly a one
sided affair." guilty innocent, there is chance
the through the channels of mercy
When the judge finds him guilty the council must
woke his license.
What then does this situation mean? The judge of
the municipal court not only the to fine
up to 800 and costs, but conviction by him.,
by jury, result according to the Hicken code,
in deprivng the convicted Of his property his
right to do business, which in the Buchanan
amounted than $4,000 Setting aside our pref
udce against the saloon business and permitting every
man to enjoy equality before the law, is there not
this too much in municipal judges?
For the life of not why every should
given the right of trial by jury
ton of city ordinances and particularly in where
both his liberty and his property are in jeopardy.
We want law enforcement and it all the
not spasmodcally and through certain admnistra-
lions, and than this want to the traffic
of politics that officials may find time to solve
other municipal problems that also have direct bear
ing our life liberty and of happi-
ness Any policy of law enforcement that ignores the
rules of simple justice and which is not free from
fanaticism will be but temporary The friend
the law will permit persecution to occur. Beware
of the pendulum, swinging back 1t is this fear the
most.
Industrial arrangements have been cruel and heart
less in their between the American work.
ing people and such cruelty heartessness there has
stood but unfailing defense-the labor movement
This labor movement has laid hold of hearts of men
and it is to them symbol of those things which