The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-18
able speed. The defendant was con-

~ SpCCNs LIN oo ~
victeG.
For two decades it was. impossible
to enforce the liquor laws of the state
in a certain judicial district principal
ly on account Of the judge. When the
prosecuting witness could not remem-
Der whether he drank beer or the
elixir of the gods, he was permitted to
get away with his perjury and the de-
PENDANT would be dismissed as a mat
ter of course. This happened not only
once, but 100 times or more until the
machinery of the district court in that
particular district became VIGOROUSLY
a friend Of violators of the law. There
has been a change in district judge
by the involuntary retirement Of the
judge. Just recently in the same dis
trict and before the present judge, a
jury returned a verdict Of not guilty
in a liquor prosecution case wherein
no defense was ~interposed and the
proof was decidedly discriminating.
With the former judge that would be
accepted as a matter Of curse, but
the present judge took the jury to task
and scored them in no. uncertain. man
ner for not regarding their oaths as
jurors. All succeeding liquor cases
tried at that term resulted in q yer-
dict of guilty. The judge did it. 80
No one officer can enforce the laws
without the assistance of the. others.
COIASt1IAlCS III PuOllS 1oAAAC LIZ
wrong official when the laws are not
enforced. All must act together, the
sheriff. the prosecutor and the judge.
The sheriff and the prosecutor must
be: both faithful and. efficient and the
judge must be both learned and i'm
partial. -" -]--- ...,
It. was my privilege at one time to
be present at an interview between an
habitual' violator of the law and a
public official. The .Yiolator thus ad-
dressed the official "I am selling
malt at my place Of business. is it un-
lawful?' Election being close, the
official, with a beaming smile, told him
that it was unlawful to sell malt, and
that if he caught him at it, he would
prosecute him. The man continued to
sell malt but was not caught at 1t by
this official. The expression on the
face Of the official and his general de-
meanor toward the law violator spoke
palmer than words that this official
did not care whether the law was VIC
lated or not and that NJ i've would
be made voluntarily to enforce the
law. Both men understood. Law VIC
latorS know with whom they are, deal
ing. If they get the. idea that an off,
cial viii go right after them with
hammer and tongs, half. Of the battle
Is already Won."
Continuing further, the speaker said
that the public officials alone could
not enforce the laws Of the state. and
particularly the prohibition; law, but
they must be backed by public senti-
ment,@ and further, that all officers
concerned in the enforcement of law
must work together. He showed that
state for the enforcement Of the law.
Along this line of argument, he said:
IF every peace officer in this state
would regard seriously the obligations
Of his oath, and attempt to do his du-
ty, it would be an easy task to en-
force the law. This Is particularly
true of the prohibition law. Our
statutes make it the duty of fifty sher-
ifs, deputy sheriffs estimated at $50,
about 2,840 c~onstables, seventy-seven
mayors, 1853 marshals. seventy-seven
police judges, and about 300 police of
ficers, who ave notice or knowledge
of any violations of the prohibition
law to notify the states attorney and
furnish him with the names of wit
nesses. If the states attorney be no.
titled by any officer or person., or be
~cognizant himself of any violation of
the prohibition law, it shall be his du-
ty to Investigate and prosecute. This
adds fifty more to the list. And If
the states attorney falls to prosecute,
the attorney general shall, and he may
appoint as many assistants as he
cttoSDSc ~ ~ - 'EH $50 |SA1N
zen may employ an attorney to assist
the states attorney, and this mum
Der is also without limit. The gov
ernor supervises the official conduct OF
all executive and ministerial officers
and 1t is his duty to see that all Of
fees are filed and the duties thereof
performed. This makes q total of a.
I04 men in this state, at least,swhich
number could be sWelled without linn
ii, whose duty 1t is to enforce the
liquor laws
If only half of the officials do their
duty the state would be cleaned ur
within twenty-four hours; 4 yes, the
same result could BIZ obtained lie IL
per cent of the officials, or less, dc
their duty. Nothing could Withstand
the onslaught OF such a magnificent
arm. 1t can be done and lit must bt
done and I believe it will 4be done
principally through the agency Of the
state enforcement league and aKina
IAlcoholy and all OF his associates will
be driven from the Boundaries Of gu
fair state. III