The Coconino sun., 1922-08-25
REGARDLESS OF OPINION
 AMENDMENT MUST BE
 ENFORCED SAYS OFFICER

M. E. Cassady, federal prohibition director for the State of Arizona, wis., ited Mohave county last week for the first time. The following interview with him on prohibition and Mohave county will be of interest to some of our readers:
 'This is my first visit to Northern Arizona" said MT. Cassady, although federal prohibition agents have been here from time to time. The great bulk of the violations of the national prohibition act is along the borders of our southern counties and I assure you it is a problem to, take care of the violation along the international line, approximately 400 miles of which borders on Arizona However, we are going our very best with the forces at our disposal to uphold the consti- tuition of the nation and state and make them respected.
 In none of the counties of the state have we received greater cooperation than we have from your present Sher- | if, W. P. Mahoney, and from w. A. | Campbell, the sheriff of the county of Coconino. They have both been earnest, sincere and active in their efforts to enforce the law and they have succeeded. I know that from the standpoint of the enforcement of the prohibition act, they have prob ably the cleanest counties in Arizona, less open violations of the law, and this result can only be obtained by vigilance on the part of the sheriff and his deputies who are sworn to up- hold the constitution and enforce our laws. Both sheriffs, w. A. Campbell of Coconino county and w. P. Ma honey of Mohave county, believe that the prohibition law, like any other law, can be enforced and they are daily demonstrating the effectiveness of their own work. As far as the efforts of the federal prohibition agents are concerned, they have large territory to cover. They work independently of the sheriffs but they cooperate with and appreciate the assistance of sheriffs like Camp bell and Mahoney and their deputies, whose activities lessen the demand up- on our forces. As far as we are con- cerned, we shall try to enforce the law, regardless of consequence. There is absolutely no compromise with those who manufacture and sell lia- uor as business and flagrantly Haunt the constitution of the nation and state. It cannot be done success fully.
 In this state the question of prohi- bition has been twice submitted to vote of the people and adopted by in- creasing majorities each time. The question of liquor for personal use was submitted to the voters of Ari- zona in 1916 and lost in every county in the state, except one, Santa Cruz. where they voted in favor of personal use by a majority of votes. Your own county of Mohave cast a vote of two to one against allowing personal use and in this connection I cannot do better than quote you an excerpt from President Harding's speech at Marion, Ohio, upon his recent visit to his home, as to the rights of majorities in this country.
 "The eighteenth amendment denies to a minority fancied sense of per sonal liberty, but the amendment is the will of America and must be sus- tained by the government and public opinion also. Contempt for the law will undermine our very foundations. ! 'Majorities, restrained to the pro- lection of minories, ever must rule. The constitution and the laws, spon- sored by the majority, must be en- forced. It does not matter who op- poses. If an opposing minority has a just objection, the rising tide of public opinion will change the law. There is no abiding liberty under any other plan.'
 'This, coming from the chief execu- tive of the republic, it was a plain declaration that the government must sustain and enforce prohibition, the penalty for not doing so being the contempt for law which will under mine our very foundations.
 eve have just completed term of the federal court at Prescott, presid- ed over by the Honorable w. H. Saw telle. United States district judge, at which we presented to the court 34 cases for violation of the national pro- hibition act, resulting in 32 convic- tions, one acquittal and one hung jury. Out of 200 cases, all of whom were manufacturers or retailers, present. ed to the United States district court of Arizona, since January 1, 1922, we have secured s194 convictions, some of them carrying a sentence of one year in jail without the option of a fine, one acquittal and four cases in which the jury disagreed. It is we'll for those intending to engage, or who are now engaged, in the illicit manufacture and sale of liquor to realize that it is discretionary with the court to fine them up to two thou sand dollars and give them five years Imprisonment for the second offense, and that Judge Sawtelle is giving the federal prohibition forces in this state every assistance in his power, to the end that the law may be en- forced without fear or favor.-Mo- have County Miner.