The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-18
F. |. Watkins Offers
Exhaustive Report of
His Labors in State

conditions far better than n year
ago as regards the enforcement OF the
laws relating to the moral welfare Of
the people. The Office OF internal
revenue has issued less than one-half
Of the government licenses this year
as were issued the same time last
year, and I was told at the office at
Aberdeen that they were issuing for
North Dakota about o~ne-fourth or
one-ffth as many as they issued three
or four years ago. Pure food and
beverage inspector, Professor Ladd,
says that his record shows that not
more than one-half of the liquor is
coming into the state that was coming
before the passage Of the Webb law.
These reports tally with my observa-
ton and Investigations, and with the
reports that come to our office from
committees. travelling men and other
sources Of information. The work may
not be measured by the number Of
prosecutions or buildings closed. The
biggest thing is the new ideal that it
Is setting up both for the people and
for the officials. and that the enforce
ment Of the law is becoming most
popular In North Dakota and all along
the line every department OF the
temperance reform is keeping the pace
with law enforcement.
The victory of the temperance
forces in the last legislature was al
most complete. The W. c. T. u,
Scandinavian Total Abstinence society
and the North Dakota Enforcement
league were in perfect harmony and
unison as to what they wanted and the
whole force stood as n for every re-
form measure. Every bill on the pro-
gram, save one, became. a law, and
some that were not on the program at
the beginning, such as the bootleggins
bill prepared by Hon. F. C. Hebron.
There was a determined effort by a
few to weaken u laws and get a
wedge started that would pry loose
our 5,rohibitory law, but before the
legislature was through almost fran
tic effort on their part brought ridicule
on the actors and they could accom-
plish nothing. The people Of North
Dakota have, reason to be proud of
their laws relating to moral welfare.
Complete prohibition of the liquor
traffic, SC far as sale, gift or barter as
a. beverage by constitutional amend
ment, with splendid laws providing for
enforcement; complete prohibition Of
all gambling and b~awdyhouses with
the best law ever enacted by any
state; complete prohibition of the gift
and a. of snuff and cigarets; a law
relating to marriage and one to eugen-
~ ViAibooy iiS lilS IlOSL
ideas as to marriage and p~ro-creation;
and a law providing for the removal
ut the official by the governor when
such official fails to enforce these laws,
The red light districts Of North Dako-
ia have almost ceased to be-: about
forty mine houses have been paddock
I'D and many more driven Jul of busi-
ness. On OF about July /, 1913, some
thing like 5000 gambling devices and
machines were taken out, and it will
be only a short time before there will
be none of these petty gambling ma
chimes operating In the state, and the
big games in the back room under lock
and key will gradually pass. The off,
Gals are doing better work, and those
who fail TODD their duty face elimin-
alton at the ballot box and removal
from office by law. Many splendid
ton who welcome us and our helm.
$50 far as I know there is not a
druggists permit to sell liquor for
medical. mechanical or scientific pur-
pose in North Dakota, and from the
lack OF complaints and personal in
Iyestigation, / judge the ~drugstores are
not selling much liquor. and where
liquor Is sold the buildings are being
closed for injunction. Instead Of a
large protest that some claimed would
come when druggist permits were talk.
en- away, there are words of commend
alton from all over the state. There is
no large or crying demand by the peo-
tie for intoxicating liquor for real
medical purpose. Most OF the liauor
sold by druggists under permit was
for beverage purpose. The North Da-
kota enforcement league lis satisfied
IN. 2RSEk