Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-01-18
BY CLAU DE BOND,
u. S. Marshal. A tIanta. Georgia.

T.
'the public" means all persons
other than sworn officers of the law
and we will confine our discussion
of claw enforcement" to the ques-
ton Of enforcing our present prohi-
bition laws.
First, let me give as illustration a
few events coming within my obser-
walton during the past few months.
Last spring one of-the best and
most conscientious sheriffs in Geor-
| gia, repsenting one of the most pro-
gressive counties in the state, appre-
hended a fellow citizen of this coun-
ty with forty gallons of liquor in
his car. Under his oath he had to
make a case. The defendant plead
guilty and was fined in the courts
for transporting and selling liquor.
In the coming primary, the convict
ed man announced as a candidate
against the sheriff who prosecuted
him and was nominated and after
ward elected and assumed the duties
of his office on January l.
Not very many months ago, one
of the deputy marshals in the North
ern District of Georgia reported to
the writer that he and some prohi-
bition agents had caught one of his
| deacons and his sons making whisky.
Cases were made, defendants were
promptly convicted and given jail
sentences, but the churches of which
they were members took no ac-
ton.
At one of the division courts of
the United States district court in
Georgia, recently many reputable
witness testified to having caught
parties who were on trial in the act
of distilling whisky, yet the jury ap-
peared to be obtuse and obstinate.
In many instances they brought in
verdicts of mot guilty" in the face
of overwhelming evidence that
pointed to a contrary finding.
Not more than two weeks ago, the
writer received letter from a party
living in one Of our mosts thriving
North Georgia cities stating that the
chief of police of his city had ruin
ed his son by furnishing him with
liquor, and that said chief of police
had several extra keys to his office
in the city hall which he had dis
tributed among his friends, including
members Sof the city council, telling
them to go to his office and get IA
drink whenever they felt like it. AL
though this fact was widely known
among many of the citizens of this
town., including business men, church
members, and others the public has
recently reelected this chief of po-
lice. The writer cannot vouch for
the truthfulness of this last instance,
but only refers to what was report
ed to him by letters.
The Individual Must Accept His
Responsibility.
It's foolish to say that the public
generally have nothing to do with
such matters. It's utter folly for
the average citizen to try to make
himself believe that the enforcement
of the law as a thing apart from
himself. He may try ever so hard to
excuse himself, but his responsible
| ty is placed upon him by our form
of government, and he must either
act or shirk. Law enforcement is
one of the most vital questions con-
fronting the public today and upon
its interest in such matters depends
the future of this country.
The present tendency on the part
of the public" is to pass the
buck" to the sworn officer and make
believe the whole duty of law en-
forctment rests with the officer
Such is not the case Each has his
respective duties to perform and the
one is as vital as the other. They
are inseparable. 1t is not the pur-
pose this article to offer any excuse
for the officer of the law, but to
emphasize the part that should be
played by the public.
Dr.. Hughes, in his treatise on pro-
hibition very aptly states that the
cause of prohibition is grounded on
two fundamental principles, namely,
personal abstinence for the individ-
ual and legal prohibition for the
state. The first of these principles
deals with the drink habit, the second
with the drink traffic. The one is
personal question and the other a
social problem. Theoretically, there
is no connection between these two.
as one may be a -totaller'' in the
absence Of legal prohibition and we
hear rumors of personal indulgence
in the face of the most stringent pro-
hibtion laws. Practically, however,
the two principles are very closely re
lated, as the one cannot possibly ex-
list without the other, Regardless of
ones outward professions, he cannot
conscientiously be opposed to the
production Of an article which he
helps consume, and a person who in
| dulgcs in strong drink as beverage
or participates in the profit of its
|'traffic, is at heart an anti-prohibi-
zionist, although he may sign the
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