The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-09-16

OudIlSS Ii. bOfdIu, u. IL, ou1e'
district superintendent, Montana
Methodist conferences: 1.-THE proh1
bition law is quite as much of a joke
to the officers sworn to uphold 1t az
it is to the public. 1t was public sen
timent that forced the adoption o.
the dry law and public sentiment has
not changed. But the officials are
falling down. If they would regard
the manufacture of moonshine whis-
ky as a crime comparable to the rob
bling of a postoffice-which it really
is-bootlegging would be reduced to
a minimum. 1 will pledge the sup
port Of every church In Montana TIC
any sincere movement on the part OF
the authorities toward making the
prohibition law effective. Moral sup
port will come when rigid enforce
ment is attempted. I agree with Mr..
Day to this extent: That cooperation
is necessary to the enforcement OF
any law, but I insist that it will be
enthusiastically forthcoming when
an earnest effort Is made"
George Mecklenburg, centenary
secretary for Helena Methodist dis
trict, embracing Montana, North Da-
kota, Idaho and eastern Oregon:
when officials say public sentiment
is not behind them in prohibition en-
forcement they should stop and con-
slider the questiOn-which public SEN
timent? The public movement for
prohibition is just as strong as ever,
but it is no longer in fighting mood.
People regard the issue as settled
with the adoption of the law and
look to the officers, their servants,
to enforce it. On the other hand,
the FOUNDERS are disgruntled and
boisterous. They are doing all the
agitating and consequently getting
all the publicity. Before accepting
these frothy ~utterances as public sem
timent officials should take cogni-
Zance of the great undertone of
moral support which is the voice OF
the nation. Throughout the country
the jails are empty or nearly so and
there is a movement on foot to COM
bine the jails of several counties be-
cause prohibition has reduced crime.
I have been told by men who origin
ally opposed the dry laws that should
the question be submitted again it
would be adopted by an even heavier
wv LA6h Woo 6AfOh IL WYNN IL O.
adopted"
John P. Carroll, D. D., bishop of
the Catholic diocese of Helena: "Pro-
Eibition is the law and will have to
be enforced. I have been out of the
state so much that | am unfamiliar
with conditions relative to enforce
ment in Montana"
Newman Hall Burdick, pastor of
the First Presbyterian church.: II be-.
lieve moral sentiment behind the
prohibition law Is needed, just as
moral support is required to make
any law effective. This law, it seems
to me, is considered a joke by many
persons and many by their acts are
contributing to the indifference and
making it harder to enforce 1t. When
representative and responsible per-
sons use liquor at their meals or at
semi-official gatherings they are con-
~tributing more than any other fac
tor to the lack of moral support that
the prohibition act requires in order
be a success. | think Mr.. Day is
about right in his views on the mat
ter"
P. A. Fair, pastor of the First Luz
theran church: 81 don't think the
condition is as extreme as Mr.. Day
pictures 1t. Many are giving their
moral support to the prohibition law
and there are not as many as the
United States district attorney ina
gines who wink at the law and the
efforts to enforce it. The law is not
as I know. 1t will improve year after
rooa M nnrt, No., - 1sffInt
gloomy"
Emil Ziegler, pastor of the First
church: 81 think Mr.. Day
is correct. Moral support for the en-
forcement of the prohibition law isl
lacking to a very great extent. SEN
timent certainly seems to be needed
to make the act effective. Too many
people treat the law as a joke and
act accordingly" j
I. N. Hughes, pastor of the Grand
street Methodist Episcopal church,
"Mr. Day is not correct in his
on prohibition enforce
nent. There is plenty of moral sup
port behind the law. The churches,
Catholic and Protestant, are for pro-
1ibition. The law is not generally
considered a joke. Any officer ac- s
xnowledging that he can't enforce !
he law should have enough pride of {
lis oath of office to resign and let {
someone be appointed who can and {
will enforce it. 1t seems to me that I
he dry law could be enforced if the
proper efforts were made" (
L. w. Smell, rector of st. Peters {
Episcopal church: "While my obser-
-ations on the mater are not extern {
i've I know that the churches are be- 1
lind the prohibition movement. Al {
hough there are no doubt many who y
hink the law is something to wink at
think many do not take it as a joke c
accept it as any other law" {
Charles M. Donaldson, d. D., presi- a
lent of Montana Wesleyan college a
Ind formerly pastor of st. PauPs L
Methodist Episcopal church: "a lit S
le more backbone In the officers L
whose duty it is to enforce prohibi-
ion is needed to make the act eff q
ective. The church forces after &C r
emphasizing the enactment Of pro- h
libition have given the officers a +
nance and expect them to make t
The officers must know, of C