The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1914-06-26
THE BooTLEccERs.

THE HooTLEooERs.
The Lewisburg Tribune charges
that all the bootleggers in the state
are for Hooper. OF course we do not
know whom the botleggers will sup
p0rt and neither does the esteemed
Lewisburg paper, and we do not be-
lieve that they will all support Hoop
or. In fact there is no reason for 30
Believing.
In the coming contest the bootleg
gers probably will have little choice
between Rye and Hooper. They do
mot owe either one Of the candidates
any favors. AS attorney general for
the past four years all admit that
Rye has dine his best to make the av-
ocation of the bootlegger very pre-
carious one. 1t is equally as true
that Hooper has done what he could
20 stop the illegal sale Of liquor in
Tennessee.
AS matter of fact the bootleggers
are going to have hard time to play
their nefarious business in Tonnes
see no matter who may be elected
governor. They would have an up
hill job if we did not elect a COVER
nor at all. Public sentiment is In
creasing against the liquor traffic in
this state. 1t is the case in Maury
county. It is true of other counties.
A prominent member of the local bar
recently stated that 1t was about as
hard to get jury in his county now
that would not convict bootlegger
as it was to get one few years ago
that would punish one Of the breed.
Law enforcement, so far as this To-
cality is concerned, is no longer a par
tisan issue. In other words juries
made up of republicans, and inde-
pendents and democrats, will convict
any bootlegger against whom the
state presents evidence sufficient to
warrant conviction. The jury COM
mission is strictly nonpartisan
board, containing democrats Of all
persuasions, and no one, no matter
what his political views, has been
heard to complain Of the character OF
juries that have been appointed.
This is as it should be. And 1t Is
this growing sentiment against the IL
quor traffic tina makes 1t increasingly
difficult for bootleggers to ply their
trade. We would rather have Wig
orous, healthy, nonpartisan sentiment
for law enforcement In community
than to have any one for governor so
far as securing an effective agency
for the conviction of criminals is con-
cerned. We sometimes think that
we are making progress slowly, but
all the time we are going ahead.
First, we had to arouse sentiment sui
.ficient to enact the prohibition laws.
That caused long and bitter fight;
the defeated did not accept the re-
suit in good grace and notification
of the laws came as the inevitable re-
suit. Then 1t was necessary to build
up sentiment for law enforcement.
II Is gratifying to know that in doing
this we have measurably succeeded,
especially in this section.
But back to the point of discussion.
Outside of the large cities the boot
logger vote in Tennessee this fall,
will be wholly unimportant factor
In the election. Unlike the licensed
saloon keeper, whose business bears
the Official stamp of approval, the
bOotlegger has little if any influence
In the community. He has no place
Of abode. He must deal out his
wares in the back alleys, stunning
the usual haunts Of men and the
Light Of day. He sinks about under
the cover Of darkness.
Herein lies one of the great bene-
hts Of prohibition. Necessarily we
will have the bootlegger with US as
long as there are men who will buy
liquor. We will have violations Of
the liquor laws just as we are going
to have violations Of the laws
against carrying pistols and murder.
Ing men. until the millennium. But
our prohibition laws have, SO far as
this section IL concernad aas+r.
the political power and influence Of
the liquor traflc.
NO SUCH cAAneE