El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-06-23
TEXAS LEGISLATURE SHOULD ENACT
LAW FOR PROHIBITION


THE legislature of Texas began its special session Mon
day. This session should pass adequate law en-
forcement bill There is strong demand throughout the
state that such bill shall be effective bill If the
law IS &c be in Texas should be written
enable the officers thoroughly to enforce the law
What should such a bill contain?
As far constitution and local conditions may
allow, such bill should parallel the national prohibition
law We know fairly well what the national law viii be-
Four bills are already introduced in the house and
three IN the senate that practically the same and
have assurances that they VIII pass with very few
changes. There are many reasons why the two laws
should parallel each other far possible
One very great reason that if Texas viii thoroughly
enforce prohibition within her bounds the federal gov
eminent viii have little occasion to operate within the
state There many people today who loudly pro-
testing against the GENERALIZATION Of power against the
federal government taking local affairs
As long the state government is weak in the enforce
menI OF law there VII be demand Tor such action on the
part Of the federal government The surest way to
tail the movement for centralized power for the
to furnish her citizenship with strong government
and adequately to enforce the law
The prime requisite for strong and adequate
forcement OF this law IN Texas lies in the creation Of
enforcement officer who sail supervise the enforcement
of prohibition throughout the state As # has been in the
past the question Of law enforcement squzrey up
to the local officials in any county the local off
Gals did not tit to enforce the law if they had
loose ideas Of law enforcement, the of prohibition
at their mercy and the citizenship had little relief
from these conditions Then had local option; the
county precinct the unit in backing proki
btioa Now have statewide prohibition voted by the
people themselves becomes the duty of the state
unit get under that responsibility and the only way
that the state can do so is to create state law
forcement officer
The day when local officials may wink at the violation
Of the law and stl retain office must to end.
If to have adequate law enforcement local officers
must know that the law must be enforced they viii
have 10 vacate the Office If an officer cannot OF win not
the law the only honest thing be do is to
step and out and allow the citizens to put in
his place who wiz enforce the law. such officer viii
vacate his office the state must provide for his
moval frcm Office
the part Of the officers for the enforcement Of
which IS the first requisite for law enforcement
But it is equally necessary to give suck power and such
privileges the officers wiz enable them adequately
Therefore, there should be an adequate search and
seizure law The liquor uafhckers persistent in
their intention violate the law inscriptions in theit
methods Of violating the law and hacked up by their
friends who VIII take any to get by, that II
euirss drastic methods to with their operations
Unless the officers given privileges to enter freely
the places where they have to believe the law
being violated and to seize stocks Of liquor that they
good reason to believe kept for the purpose CT
violating the law and do this without danger Of being
themselves they cannot adequately enforce the law
L nothing than right to unite the hand Of our
officers in the enforcement Of this law.
Co1reative with the preceding the law should throw
restrictions the question Of possessing liquor By
the terms Of the amendment have voted, liquor
be manufactured sold transported except for four
specific PURPOSES medicinal scientific, mechanical and
aamentaL If liquor is possessed for any other purpose
than these Iou it IS prma face evidence that it was OBJ
tanned Illegally that the law is violated and the who
It IL his possession has been acconplee IN the
violation of the law On these grounds the officer should
gvsa the privilege Of seng any liquor held for any
other purpose than the fou1 above named.
Since liquor cannot be made, bought nor transported
or snv other than the four above named purposes the
person who found under the influence of liquor
Trunk or with beverage liquor about him, evidently has
7ioIated the procuring It The law should require
hat he divulge the from which he procured his
ouor and on doing so, relieve him Of the penalty Of
he cue- and If he refuses to do So the law should
asten the crime upon himself Under the provisions Of
he amendment the fact that one has into pos
session Of beverage liquor Is proof that he is
pcs and If he refuses to disclose the Of his sup
ply he becomes guilty Of shelerng ar5 shielding the Grim