The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1916-12-01
A CLEAN BISMARCK.

There is every evidence that a new
era has dawned for Bismarck. The
year that is now in its twelfth month
has been one of progress and achieve
ment This city faces the future with
determination to continue its growth
unhampered by an element which re.
fuses to admit that the order of
things has changed. N. ,
The Tribune has had occasion from
time to time to comment upon the
illegal sale OF liquor and the toler-.
ance of certain characters within our
confines. Under a lax administration
Of the prohibition laws, conditions
shayes reached a state that need rem.
J.adying without delay. ...,.,I 81 /,
sut the steps should be taken
Through the regular legal channels.
4 the states 4att orney's ONCE, the sheriff
and the city police administration.
Since the recent agitation in the
Tribune. some Improvement is noted
in the handling of police court cases.
The attendance Of City Attorney Nc.
Curdy each day at the sessions Of the
court has had beneficial results.
Some concerted action, however, in.
volving the cooperation of state,
county and city authorities is neces-
sary to rid Bismarck of bootleggers
and blindpiggers. An effective weap.
on has been placed in Attorney Gen.
eral Linde's hand in the ratification
OF the bootlegger law at the recent
election. That he will use it when
the law Is finally certified, there
seems little qquestion.
The Tribune has no sympathy with
the selfconstituted reformers or
agents Of law enforcement leagues.
who operate through private sources
Anticipating a cleanup in Bismarck,
these gentlemen have descended up.
on us with all their paraphernalia:
their Sunday meetings; the usual
"pussy.fO0ting'; the usual demands
tor newspaper publicity and the usual
playing upon the credulity of some
excellent church people. who seem to
forget that the proper agencies for
law enforcement are the legal ones,
not the self-appointed Catos who
make business of and profit by RE-
forming" 'f'",
To all appeals for publicity from
this class the Tribune is deaf. Even
If thoir hearts are right; their meth
DDS are wrong. We elect public Of
ficials; we support them through the
payment of taxes and they take
oaths to uphold the laws; not some,
but all the statutes.
The place to begin is with these
hired servants Of the people. 1t is
poor policy to delegate the functions
OF states attorney. sheriff and police
officers to the paid reformers'' who
pursue the uplift movement for so
much per day.
Bismarck will never have law en-
forcement until it insists that its pub.
lie officials elected and sworn to en-
force the law do their duty. 1t is
futile to manufacture a moral wave
by encouraging men who are little
more than ''peeping Toms"
Unfortunately some of the good
people, as interested as the Tribune
in seeing the prohibition laws enforc-
ed. believe that they must 60 out
side of the legally constituted Off
Gals for relief. This fallacy is re-
sponsibie for the law enforcement
agents. whose activities, always spas
medic and always accompanied by
brass band methods, have accomplish.
ed nothing.
Let us stir, up the consciences of
our public officials to their duty in
the matter. Failing in that, there
are other steps that can be taken
much more eficacious than shifting
the burden of law enforcement to
the privately Maid reformera