The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1921-12-30

On December 18th, Chiet OF Police
Fitzmorris. Of Chicago, ordered the
members OF the Police Department to
enforce the Illinois Prohibition act
This order directed that all Of the
city's $500 policemen act at once
against every saloon. club. cabaret. or
other place where liquor is sold or
given away. The chiefs order To-
commanding officers was as follows.
| am IN receipt OF an opinion
from the corporation counsel
defining the responsibility in
posed upon this department IN.
der the Illinois Prohibition act
OF June p, 1921.
This act defines as violators of
the law those who keep. sell or
give away Intoxicating liquor eA-
cept upon permits issued in ac-
cordancc with certain provisions
OF the law. In other words, pub
lie places where liquor Is sold
kept or given away violate the
provisions Of the Prohibition act.
and those responsible arc amen
able to prosecution under this act.
In this part OF his order the chief
referred to statement by the mayor
on December Sth in which the mayor
declared that lie would cleanse Chi
cago from murder. crime and cor
ruption OF every nature. close the hell
holes where liquor and moonshinc are
alleged and proven 10 BIZ sold" -.
The chiefs order then continued:
Commanders Are Responsible
1T is the duty OF every member Of
this department to enforce strictly
every provision OF the law. Com
mandirg officers will be held re-
sponsiblc for the action of their sub
ordinates in this as in other matters.
You will instruct the members OF
your command to this effect.
Where violations OF this law are
found and prosecutions result in con-
victions you will recommend the re-
vocation OF ali licenses issued to such
places. Where am able through
other means at my disposal to locate
and convict violators of this law, |
shall prefer charges against the patrol
man on post and the Commanding OF
ficer of the district.
Section 3 of the Illinois Prohib-
ton act provides that all provisions
of this act shall be literally con
strued to the end that the use OF in
toxicating liquor as beverage may
be prevented, and this statement OF
the law defines the attitude OF this de-
partment.
You are directed to see that every
member of your command either re-
ceives copy OF this order or has il
read to him in its entirety"
Police Captains Conference
Following the issuance OF his orders
10 enforce Prohibitions, Chief ,Fitz-
morris held conference OF police
captains to discuss the law and pro-
cedure for its enforcement. James W
Breen, First Assistant Corporation
Counsel, was present to erplain the
legal phases of the work to be done
by the police. The Chicago Evening
Post printed the following connection
with its report OF this conference:
81 mean business" the chief
told his conferers. AS police cap
tains, each one OF you will be held
responsible for the enforcement
OF the dry laws in your districts.
This is not reform movement.
II is a movement for control
There will be no special sponge
squad to mop up the city. Every
man in uniform will be held re-
sponsible for his part in the
wiping out OF places where liquor
is illegitimately sold.
Many Are Arrested
Hundreds OF violators were arrest
ed by the police in the first few day.
] following the chiefs enforcement
order. Saloons, cabarets, clubs, anC
other places were raided. The news
papers reported that about 300 ar
1
rests for liquor violations were made
by the police during the first three
days following the chiefs order. Or
the first Monday morning following
the raids by police, the courts were
crowded with liquor law breakers
Many of the violators were fined bu