Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-05-16

PRESIDENT oKeefk, Of tic city comnissio in 4
|llettesfs Just published in The Herald outlines the in
sttryftians. which he has given 81. police depart
r11e,ht ct the city in relation 70 law enforcement in
Finances and1lhe laws prohibiting traffic in in iintoxi-
..carts. In the instruction. which he has given Presi-
|dsnt O'Keefey goes right 10 the heart 5of the matten
The Substance of the Instructions il that the rnem-
b saa Of q the police force are expected TO use all the
leggaFfieaIs in their power to inspire with fear of the
law those who do not respect Il. %s
The reckless automobile driver Is 4 menace to
life and limb. Drunk OF sober. he hAs no business at
Large Nc. one knows what damage he may do,
whose hid he may kin, within the next hour. Com
paired with the nunnber. Of drivers there are only a
ffewFof these persons, but these few .aA..e themselves
d constant danger and an intolerable nuisance. For
the habitual. offender there should be neither non,in-
al hhe nor suspended sentence. The Jail sentence is
the only thing that fits, and a jail sentence should be
served in jait and not enjoyed as period Of digni-
police department., of course ,'has nothing to do with
Questions OF punishment. 1t is the business Of the
police to make arrests where the law is flagrantly
violated, and to present the evidence in court. The
INSTRUCTIONS to the police are. not that they shall
make arrests when complaint Is made to them, but
that they shall take such steps as are necessary to
make the streets of Grand Forks safe for the use of
decent people.
Ii. relation. to liquor violations the mayors in
structions are equally explicit and comprehensive
1t is admittedly out OF the question for the police to
Spot eMAfy passing automobile and search it for con-
trabandliquor. But when a man is habitually found
in disrepptable company; when he drives an expen-
sive car and has other expensive habits when he.has
no present visible means Of support; when he is
known not to have done a stroke of honest work or
earned an honest dollar in months; and when, as in
many cases, he has a criminal record, the necessary
conclusion is that he is carrying on the business Of
bootlegging. There. are numerous ways known to
the vignant officer of obtaining evidence against
these people, and the mayors Instructions to the po-
lice are to get the evidence.
The bootlegger stands at the center Of every
form of criminal activity. He. may or may not be
engaged personally in the commission of other
crimes, But he is the instrument III the forming Of
the criminal. conspiracy and an aid in carrying it out.
The stuff which he purveys keys the robber up to
his work. His. car carries the gunman from the
scene of his exploit. The bottled poison which he
provides adorns the hip pocket Of the young sport,
and, often secretly introduced into. the drink of his
girl companion, drugs her into responsibility. II
may not be possible to land in the penitentiary all
OF this tribe who make Grand Forks their head
quarters, but it is possible to make their business so
hazardous and uncomfortable that they will either
quit it and try to earn. an honest living or move on
to trv the garexin some other town. 7
President O'Keefe has stated the case in Ian
ouage which cannot be misunderstood. We are con-
ident, that he means business. He and the public
have a right to demand that the Instructions which
he has given shall be carried out heartily and LOYALTY,
with full effect given to their spirit. He and the
police force, on the other hand have a right to ex-
rect and demand on the part of the public full and
hearty co.operation wherever and however coop
GRAFTON, can be given. =