Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-01-28
Communication on
Law Enforcement
Eagle River Citizen Calls Atten-
ton to Laxity of the Prohi-
bition Law Enforcement
in This Village


Dear Mr. Editor-So much in the
way of news items, comments and ed
itorials is printed for our consump-
ton III the general literature of the
day that the public is being kept well
informed However interesting great
issues like the League of Nations
may be, the wet and dry items tran
scend it because it seems to touch us
individually.
The fact that prohibition laws
based on the 18th amendment to the
constitution are in the way Of en-
forcement brings out many interest
ing sideligllts on the situation. Note
the stand of Milwaukee grand jury
which indicted a number of persons
under the Volstead law petitioning
Congress TO permit the sale of wine
and beer. Conscientiousg Yes, but
the level of education of Che Milwau-
kee conscience is reputably low. Note
again thirty-seven states have read
into their state laws the Volstead act
or it's equivalent and eleven have re-
fused to do so; Wisconsin being one
of the latter. Does this not bring the
blush of shame to your cheek, Mr..
and Mrs. Voter.
But to come nearer home, we have
:, ~.+.,o+;o,, x,,n ooY,,of uYon ho .n1.Olld
Of in Eagle River Since the parson
has lived here the town has been dry.
The sentiment against saloons being
sufficient to vote them out three
years before the country at large
went dry. With booze sold in nearby
towns it was not unusual to see men
addicted to the use of liquor still able
to procure it and become drunk. At
ter the country voted dry and nearby
towns as well as our own town were
supposed to be dry it was thought
that the bone dry prophecy had be-
come true. But 10! the home still and
the mash (whatever that may mean
has come into existence. The men
who loved whisky before, loved the
home brew better How are we going
to cope with the situation? The reply
naturally is-the law.
In speaking of this to well (altho
not favorably) known citizen of Eagle
River the reply was why don't they
pass laws that ought to be enforced
This is the opinion of one who is said
to have handled moonshine. Against
that put the will Of the people of
Eagle River who have voted success
lively and successfully to make the
law. Who is going to rule, the few or
the many?
Another reply is-the officer of the
law. Here is where we are up against
it" The premises of the officer of the
law are oftentimes restricted so that
he cannot do that which he would
like to do. On the other hand these
premises become an excuse for an
officer to set aside that which he is
unwilling to do. From good author
ity comes the advice that district
attorney is not expected to be a de.
tective or to hire detective. Neither
is it expected of a sheriff to act as a
detective. Hearsay evidence is INSULT
cient to demand action, but if definite
complaint of persons and places is
given the sheriff is obligated to pro
cure a search warrant and investigate
the case The district attorney usually
gives the warrant but a Judge OF
court may also be called on to give a
warrant
Again, any citizen seeing a drunk
and disorderly person may make com
plant and bring action against thai
person without expense to himself
This now becomes duty of every
citizen to help put this or any Other
law into effect. In the prosecution OF
such case the person intoxicated il
required to say where he got the