The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-07-27
1T DIDN'T TAKE

Yes, dear reader, the Dig noise on
the electric plant is all over. The
Monroe "doctoring," unlike the Mon
roe Doctrine, didn't prove popular.
1t didn't take, and like the good lit
tie doggie-laid down, rolled over, and
died. After the lengthy address of
Mayor Harry Koehler, in which the
real truth of the situation was un-
folded, was gotten to the people and
thoroughly digested the opposition
to constructing larger electric power
and light plant rapidly dwindled until
now it is a mere nothing. The peo-
pie as whole now plainly see the
point and realize the dangerous pit
fall they might have been led into by
some who had no other reason for
doing so than personal motive, and
who are attacking Mayor Koehler's
stand in the matter for political gain.
The attack of the Hamilton Daily
News on Mayor Koehler for his stand
has fallen fat, and none realize it
more than does the News. The News
was getting in hole in the brawl
and its situation was much like that
of the man who had hold of the lions
tail; he wanted to get away but didn't
dare let go; he was safe so long as he
could hold onto the blunt edge of the
blamed thing. And so it was with
the News. 1t had a strangle hold of
a bad thing; it wanted to let go but
didn't know how-safely.
But some people seem to have all
the luck. Just when the News didn't
know which way to turn in the
wrangle, 10 and behold, along comes
the Cincinnati Enquirer on last Sun.
day morning with first page article
to the effect that Mayor Koehler was
warned by the state prohibition com.
missioner that he must clean up the
city by Thursday or face removal
charges. All, here was the chance tC
let loose the tail of the beast anC
get away safely. And this the News
did-that is, it tried to. Beginning
Monday night it scareheaded its front
page, lambasting Mayor Koehler anC
Sheriff Rudy Laubach for their neg
ligence in enforcing prohibition ant
cleaning up gambling in Hamilton
and Butler county. Never a chirp OF
the electric proposition That's dead
glad to be rid of it.
But it seems that when it let go Of
the electric lion it grabbed hold the
tail of prohibition gambling tiger
which it seems is proving more fierce
than was the lion The News in big
type told how Mayor Koehler must
clean up by Thursday or get out, anc
what happened? Instead of fire.
works in the mayors office on Thurs,
day morning, along comes the self.
same Cincinnati Enquirer with cuts
of Sheriff Laubach, Mayor Koehlel
and State Prohibition Commissioner
Mcdonald (and say, weren't they
dandy likenesses p, and an article
saying that everything was lovely
again between the Hamilton and But
Ter county authorities and the state
prohibition department, that much OF
the stuff charged against the Local
officials as coming from the state
authorities was misquoted, and ack-
nowledging that Hamilton and Butler
county are no worse for gambling
and liquor violations than are other
communities and not as bad as some
And now the News is looking for
something new to happen so it can
again let go and get out from under.
There is no question but that there
are many violations of liquor laws in
the community, but how are they to be
stamped out when about 85 per cent
of the people are opposed to the law
and insist on having their beer and
booze? The Press is opposed to law
violation. 1t is opposed to prohibi-
ton, but since it is the law it be-
lieves it should be enforced believ.
ing the closer it's enforcement the
sooner the people will turn on it and
wipe it out. But at the same time
the Press believes that, with the de-
sire for drink and so many booze
and home-brew outfits in operation
it would take ten times as many
soldiers as were in Hamilton during
the time of the flood to wipe out all
violations of liquor laws in Butler
county and Hamilton. 1t can't be
did.
RY,t apuyuau in tho avo;+o,oox% ~