The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1921-02-25

strictions subversive OF these rights
and privileges"
Law-Breakers Also Organized
Naturally organizations jof law
breakers are not chartered and public
announcement of their purposes is not
made. 1t is not easy, therefore, to
give exact information relative to
such organizations. 1t is not likely
that these organizations have definite
and formal agreements binding them
to concerted action. 1t is neverthe-
less apparent that there exists i def
mite understanding relative to proceed
ure and il is fairly certain that there is
some sort of an agreement among
violators to share the risks and penal
ties OF their lawlessness.
The organized law-breakers are
working along two lines. They are
using their power and influence to fill
both elective and appointiVc enforce
ment offices with friends OF the liquor
traffic. In Chicago within the past
week a general roundup OF saloon
keepers took place in the fifth ward.
In reporting the meeting the Daily
News said, at was meeting exclu-
sively for saloonkeepors, and the roll
was called TO make sure that all were
present" An assistant corporation
counsel aud an assistant states attor-
ney addressed the meeting. 1t is re-
ported by the Chicago newspapers
that the saloonkeepers We're assured
ths.t ii1o candidate scr whoin .hi5
meeting was held would. il elected,
help them out i'll case they got into
trouble. This was i'll effect tell
ing them to use their influence TO
place. man into the city council who
would use his influence as an official
to help them avoid punishment for
violating the constitutional law OF the
land.
Crooks Want Enforcement Jobs
The newspapers reported also
within the past weeek that an appli-
cant for a position in the federal en-
forcement department was found to
have a twelve-year jail record. This
was merely an incident in the efforts
of the vets to secure the appointment
of officials favorable to law violations.
A previous attempt was the effort OF
the wets to secure the appointment OF
a notorious wet Chicago politician to
one of the chief enforcement officers
in this part of the country.
Million Dollar Wet Defense
In the Federal Court in Chicago
twcnty-four alleged violators of the
Prohibition laws are being defended
by a group of lawyers described by
the Chicago Tribune as: One OF the
most imposing arrays of legal talent
ever gathered together i'll a federal
case" Among the lawyers are a for
mer governor (Dunne), four former
United States district attorneys,
candidate for states attorney in Cook
county and Clarence Darrow, consid-
cred one OF the ablest in the country.
The fight being made in this case
shows that the liquor interests are
united and determined to defeat Pro-
hibition in the courts.
The. securing OF the ablest lawyers
possible regardless Of the cost indi-
Gates that the organized wet law
breakers will do their utmost to pre-
vent the conviction OF violators. The
battle in the courts has for its object
not merely the protection of the in
dividual violators, but the prevention
of successful prosecutions, thereby
increasing the difficulties of enforc-
ing the law. This is the second line
of activity by the interests organized
to break the law.
Pro-Wet Propaganda Continued
By persistent attacks against the
Amendment the wet in
terests hope to influence public opin
ion in support of amending the law.
How much of the newspaper and
publicity is directly con-
trolled by the wet interests it is i'm
possible to state. Revelations made
before the United States Senate in
committee several years
ago exposed the amazing system of
subsidizing the public press formerly
in operation by the brewers. There
fore it is>natural to suppose that much
material appearing as news and edi-