Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-11-03
WANT HELP OF
PUBLIC OPINION
FEDERAL AGENTS CANNOT
ENFORCE LAW UNLESS
ASSISTED

A manifest, outspoken public senti-
ment on the part of the people for law
obedience and law enforcement is the
great need of the hour, according to
John f. Kramer, former federal pro-
hibition commissioner, who spoke at
the Methodist church last Sunday
evening, when law enforcement mass
meeting was held under the auspices
of the Anti-Saloon league.
Eve all may differ in our opinions
on prohibition" he said, "but we are
one in our opinion on obedience TO the
law / wish sometimes, that | could
forget about prohibition. So much has
been thought, spoken and written
about it."
Wants to Forget
81 wish we could forget it. II is
here. 1t has been put in the constitu-
ton of the United States for all time
and we will never get thirty-six states
to take IL our or to modify it. 1t has
passed the abstract stage and we must
now look to the vital point Of obedi-
ence to the law and its enforcement. ="
Mr.. Kramer mentioned several
things which, in his opinion were need
ed to enforce the prohibition law. The
most important Of these is the ex-
preston of public opinion in favor of
law enforcement. The federal Off
GERS, he said. do not need more agents
or greater appropriations by congress.
These, he said, will not do the work.
THE local communities" said the
speaker, "seem to think the matter
is directly up to the federal govern
ment. 1t Is not. What can thousand
federal agents do to suppress law vio-
lations in forty-eight states? What
can 10000 agents do to accomplish
this? The government shall help, of
course, but 1t cannot do 1t all. In every
every community is host of officers
who can see that the law is enforced
and they can enforce 1t with the help
of public sentiment. international
smuggling of liquor and the proper Isl
suance of permits for the legal use OF
intoxicating beverages are the prob
lens that the federal government has
to grapple with and they are not light
ones"
Prevention Remedy
The speaker said that the proper
time to arrest the criminal is before
the crime is committed. Prevention
is the best remedy. He cited instances
of the influence of few citizens band
ed together i'm committee for the
enforcement of the law and for the
assistance of local officers. THE
trouble with u.s." he said, sis that
we say. I don't want to get into poll
ties That is not right. We owe just
as sacred a duty to the state as to the
church. The opposition is organized
and the church and the better element
should also be organized.
According to Mr. Kramer. the pro-
hibition law is different from all other
laws 1t Is not difficult to enforce the
law against theft or burglary. Public
sentiment is strongly against these Of
lenses. 1t should be just as strong
against the violation of the prohibition
law.
No Fear of Failure
ID. r. French, district superintendent
of the state Anti-Saloon league, spoke
for few minutes following Mr.. Kram-
er's talk He said that he had no
fear of the failure. of prohibition. AS
long as that question has the votes and
support of the women, prohibition is
safe. But he said there Is still one
danger The fight for the enforce
ment of the law Is not yet over To
assure this fact the fight must still be
continued, He explaind the plan of
the Anti-Saloon league to organize
committees in each county and city
and by the help OF these committees
and an organized public opinion to as
sure local officials of the necessary
assistance in the enforcement of the
law,
Sunday was Not Over" day in the
local churches, talks and programs be-
ing given TO impress the fact that the
fight against the liquor interests was
not yet over Mr.. Kramer and Mr.
French spoke in the Presbyterian and
Methodist churches and explained the
plans of the Anti-Saloon league. The
evening service at the Methodist
church was we'll attended. Pastors of
the local churches were present as
were many of the city and county of
ficials.