Arizona republican., 1922-05-03
Newspaper. and Law enforcement

AS conspicuousy possible The Republican
announcing its policy with respect the publicity
to be given the cases of persons charged with vio-
lations of the prohibition law 1t is moved to DO
this by the frequent requests from persons other
wise lava abiding who caught IN the prohibition
enforcement net for the suppression of stories of
arrest
The Republican strongly advocates the enforce
ment of the law and desires assist its enforce
ment. The strongest deterrent of its violation next
that the activity officers is he publicity
which the newspapers can give. In fact there is
other way in which the newspapers can help. They
fill columns with articles the evil of alcohol
and the need of law enforcement without disturbing
the slightest degree the current of lawessness.
But when they parade those who engage in lawless-
they exercising deterrent force
The more prominent in the community the law
breaker is the effective the publicity of his
offense. THE bigger he is the harder he falls"
The arrest of some small sneaking bootlegger may
and then be omitted. Publication of his troubles
is generally not worth the newspaper space it fills
either matter of news or deterrent. But when
who has been esteemed for many good quail
lies descends deliberately lawbreaking story of
his misdoing carries lesson with it.
Prohibition is here to stay. It must be enforced
ana it will be enforled. There is probability of
early modification OF the enforcement The power
Of the government is behind the always
Of the party power well Of the government it
self depends upon its determination and ability to
exercise that power Courts and jurors here and
here may fail for time but they will be succeeded
ey other courts and jurors which will not fail.
Sometimes we hear that one consequence of pro-
addition been the breeding of dsrespect for all
law. 1t is true that disrespect of all laws has
been brought to the surface by attempts enforce
prohibition. The prohibition law defined new
crime just as the laws against murder, theft arson
and forgery brought crimes into existence. If
had penal laws could have crimes.
There be crimeless state only under anarchy.
sut having laws if we neglect to enforce. some of
hem or one of them, weaken all of them.
We may believe that prohibition is wrong and
unwise But it has been decreed by great majority
IF the people. There is ns other article of the
stitution which was given such long and earnest
consideration and which placed in the constitu-
ton by such tremendous proportion of the whole
people. So right or wrong. it must be upheld
else we must confess that system of government
is futile and that there only system govern
ment absolute anarchy. If a minority may dis
regard law it may disregard every law. And
if a minority can do that each individual can do it
and each be a law unto himself. Prohibition has
brought out several classes of citizens Those who
habitually at heart lawless; those who are cul-
pably tolerant and regard the law as joke those
who support the law because it is PROHIBITION
law: and the best and most patriotic citizens. those
who support the law because it is the LAW and who
would with equal zeal uphold any law
1t is upon the last class of citizens must de-
pend for the enforcement of the law; not upon the
Aant- Saloon League; upon any organization with
special preference for some one law and dsre-
gard for others.
Prohibition enforcement at the present time needs
attention for the reason that that is the
law that is for the moment most threatened with
violation.
We must get it out of our minds that the pro-
hibton any other a joke that the viola
lion of it is a peccadillo.