Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-02-23

The liquor question always occupies
a prominent place in the attention of
the public, of the courts and of their
officers.
So far as this office is concerned The
whole subject matter is in three words.
Compliance with law. No more. No
ltss. Individual opinions, pro or con
upon the sui ject of intoxicants, the
right or wrong, The wisdom or uuwis-
dom of license, their sale or their pro-
hibition, do moi measure the duties or
control the action of this office in the
premises; hut the sole duty thereof is
to secure The enforcement of the law as
found on the pages of the statute book.
This will be its policy and practice.
The law clearly lays down the duty OF
a license holder and holds him thereto;
protects him in his granted rights and
in The enforcement of tina. duty; pro-
vides a penalty for its violation and de-
crees the forfeiture of any license whose
conditions are not fulfilled. Every
phase Of this law will be fairly and i'm
partially enforced so far as this office
can do.
The county was invaded during the
writer's former term of office by a most
insidious form of gambling, viz. slot
machines. No statute then specifically
denounced them, but when convinced
of their vice and Illegally be gave fair
aud kindly warning thereof to their
custodians and required their removal.
This direction being evaded in one
locality he invoked The power of the
sheriff and his officers, raided and de-
stroyed as many as found and secured
the Indictment of the operators
tShortly thereafter a statute was passed
which expressly outlaws slot machines.
They will not be tolera ed in the coun-
ty. Other forms of gambling are like
wise denounced by S a ute and subject
10 like action.
No resident Of this county, at least
upon its mainland, can have failed to
note aud resent the recklessness with
which automobiles are daily and night
ly driven along our roads. Frequent
accidents, politely so called, often per-
ling life aud limb, result from a GRIM
inal disregard of the rights of our peo-
pie; and much of this peril comes from
citizens of other states who abuse the
courtesy of our state in granting them
the free use of our excellent highways.
The writer hereby earnestly asks all
good citizens, auto drivers as well as
others, to aid in securing safety to the
people Of this county as against reck-
less sbusers of said privileges. The au
tomobile is here to stay. 1t is a neces-
sity of life in this age, and is clearly a
part of our domestic economy; but this
conceded condition differs widely from
the menace such engine becomes in the
hands of the careless and lawless. The
law declares it a dangerous weapon
when used to inflict needless injury,
and denounces as criminal its reckless
driving. The law does not and never
did intend that locomotives should rush
ut express train speed along public
roads to the deadly peril of u people.
This cffice will, if sustained therein,
invoke the power of the criminal law
in every proper case, backed with suffi
Gent proof, to the ed of securing all
persons, autoists no less than others,
in the safe use of our highways. Go
decently or do not go, should be the
public's ultimatum to such wrong
doors, drunk or sober; and a very few
forfei of drivers licenses will
speedily insure that condition of safety
This frank statement is a we'll meant
caution.
No crime is more repugnant to the
basic principles of popular government
than political corruption, whether of
voters or officials; whether at prima-
ries, general elections, or for mere po-
litical preference. After falling under
the ban of awakened moral sentiment
and practically into disuse, this utterly
indefensible evil has, according to well
founded belief, been lately put anew
into practice by some would be leaders,
not in all cases long resident in this
county. Whatever extenuation may
be urged for some offenses, whether OF
passion, supposed necessity, lack of
understanding or what not, lone can
be offered for this. Greed is the sole
motive for this crime, and the only
excuse ever offered, viz that the other
party is likely to do likewise, merely
accentuates its vice. Prosecution 10
the limit of the law will be the policy
of this office in every case that comes
before it.
With no other desire or intention
than the fair. lust, impartial fulfillment