The diamond drill., 1921-10-22
is PROHIBITION A
FAILURE?

There is not wanting plenty OF
signs that prohibition, or the enforce
ment OF the prohibition law is be-
coming more and more a failure every
day. Never since the passage OF the
prohibition law has booze been more
plentiful nor easier 70 obtain than Il
is at present, and the supply is eg-
identity increasing quite rapidly. In
fact the price has recently quite ma
terially declined, and this, as In all
other things, must be taken as a GER
tain indication that the supply is In.
creasing. We haven't visited Hurley
recently, but we are told by many
who are in a position to know that
booze is being sold openly to amy who
have the price in practically every
soft drink" pa-lor In the town across
the river, and that there is apparent
ly no secrecy whatever about the traf-
Tic. II is also fact that one who seeks
II has little difficulty In obtaining
plenty OF booze on this side OF the
river, particularly in the eastern end
Of the county. At Mercer and the
other aake resort towns south OF Hur-
ley booze is sold openly over the ba=s,
and In two recent trips TO the copper
country and the Marquette range VIC
were easily convinced that there was
no lack OF booze nor difficulty in OBJ
tanning II in those places.
We should not say that as booze is
being sold and consumed in this dis
trict as was the case before the prohi-
bition law was passed. In fact we pre-
sumo that the quantity is far less but
nt least there Is some large quantity OF
stuff being disposed of and drank
at present and the attempts Of the pro-
hibition enforcement officials TO en-
force the law appear to be q large
degree negligent.
For time we were inclined TO o
gree with those who contended that
time would put a stop to the Illicit
traffic that the supply OF real booze
would be consumed and that people
would refuse to drink the fierce moon
shine made by the novices az the art OF
distillation but the contrary would ap-
pear TO be the case. AS far as the real
booze is concerned. the organization
fo- bringing IL over from Canada APP
pears TO have been so perfected that
there is practically no dihlculty or
danger in securing an unlimited sup
ply OF II, and even the price has been
reduced Also the takers OF maunshine
appear 10 have become proficient IN
the art through much practice and we
are told that they are now turning ont
"real good stun" and this at very
reasonable price.
We are inclined 20 the belief that
the real enforcement OF this prohibit
tlon Is a matter largely OF public aen-
timent and that so long as the public
in general looks without any forcibiy
expressed disapproval at the violat-
ions OF the prohibition law which are
prevalent everywhere there can b. no
real enforcement OF the law.
A handful OF prohibition enforce
ment officials, even though they are
honest and energetic In the pursuit
OF their duties-and there Is plenty OF
evidence that many OF them are not
can do little IN the real stopping Of
the Illicit liquor trafhc where they
lack the cooperation OF the local ofii-
clals and considerable portion OF
public opinion Is against them, or at
least looks upon violations OF the pro-
hibition law as none OF their concern,
We have been told that, at least
the boys who are growing up today
will not bother 10 obtain liquor and
consequently will have no opportua
ity to contract the liquor habit, but
thore is not wanting In many places.
including Ironwood evidence that boys
arc able to obtain liquor and that they
are In some instances at least. learn
ing To drink II. Perhaps this very fact
viii In time awake the people In gem
eral to the dangers Of the lack Of ems
forcement OF the liquor law with q re-
sultant change in public opinion. I'm.
less this comes we have doubts that
there will ever be any greater en-
forcement OF the law than there Is ~
pretcrt Tronwood Times.