The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-27
DEALERS WHINE AS
SALOONS ARE CLOSED

| Blooming Prairie minnesota. Is pre-
senting to the people of that state at
! large a very fair example of the pa
| triotism of the Minnesota liquor peo-
| pie. ruling made by the public
safety commission to the effect that
saloons must be closed on entrainment
days for draft ntingents was sought
to be stayed by the Blooming Prairie
booze vendors
1t mattered not to these Blooming
Prairie saloon men whether these boys
! going to fight for the protection OF
liberty and democracy should become
| victims OF saloon greed Just so the sa-
looms were permitted to ply their trade
and make their money. These same
saloon people would no doubt buy lib
erty bonds and war savings stamps
and shout their patriotism. and while
standing in their doors and thus pro-
ella Inning their virtues abroad. would
permit indiscriminate sale to draft
contingents and alcohol to be supplied
! to soldiers in uniform to as great an
extent as they could possibly do so
without becoming victims OF the law.
Here is what a Minnesota newspaper
has to say regarding the Blooming
Prairie case;
The supreme court OF Minnesots
ma intains the sound position it has
heretofore taken. that an administrs-
1
strained by the courts in thu enforce
ment of law, II the validity OF a law
is questioned. the contention must be
submitted to the proper court for con-
sheraton and decision. But mean
while the good faith and Judgment Of
the officers charged with the laws en-
forcement cannot be questioned in the
courts
The court, therefore. refuses to per-
NIT the district court of Ramsey
+ county TO enjoin Governor Burnquist
from closing a saloon at Blooming
Prairie on order of the public safety
commission. or to require the governor
to show cause why he should not be
enjoined
Hard upon this decision comes that
Of Judge Hale, of the Hennepin district
court, to the effect that the orders OF
tho public safety commission in this
connection are valid and binding in all
respects
The decision is evidently based on
| the belief Of the court that the law
creating the commission and clothing
II with extraordinary powers is con-
stitutionsi act within the powers ot the
legislature.
! "siuce the supreme court did not as
sumo to pass on the validity OF the
law, which was not directly involved
I in the question as to the power of the
lower court to enjoin the governor,
Judge Hale's decision IL still subject
to review in this respect~-tf the ohjec-
tors care to pursue the matter fur
| ther.
while II would be rresumptnous 20
! indulge in prophecy as to what the
higher court would say in the event
OF such an appeal, ii is at least evil
dent that the judicial branch Of the
state government cannot be success
! fully invoked to stay the hand of the
commission or OF the governor in the
their duty in maintaining law and
order,
| The general sentiment In Minnesota
/ is becoming thoroughly aroused against
/ these hcoxe interests which are wtlfui
/ in their practices against the soldier
boys and the action Of the saloon 1eo-
pie themselves is very helpful in built
! ing up the force FOR their ultimate ex-
! termination, a ratification Legislature
/ and adoption OF statewide prohibition
as a result Of the coming election In
: the state OF Minnesota.
/ In the conduct Of war activities the
1 government through It's food admins
! tration and councils OF defense, etc.
I has issued orders cutting down ra-
/ lions, stopping some things entirely
I from the use of the people at large,
/ and the people oheyed this action AZ
( the government The liquor people
meeting cleanup requests, which are
the same as orders from the govern
ment instead Of acting like the patri-
otto citizens who render service Of
lmn ediate and wilful compliance. get
about 10 overcome the order that
they can continue their practices
which are coincident with their profits
measure of patriotic standard Of all
those engaged in the liquor business,
from the maker to the seller, reflects
the urgent and immediate necessity Of
eliminating the influence Of the traf-
nc which is so out OF harmony with
patriotic purposes.