The Dolores star., 1923-04-13
GOV. SWEET WOULD
INTEREST THE PEO-
PIE IN THE EN-
FORCEMENT OF
THE PROHIBI-
TION LAW.
Extracts From His Speech
to the Members of the
Twenty-Fourth General
Assembly.

the Volstead Act is of such grave i'm
portance that have called you togeth-
er in joint session to consider it.
Public opinion is absolutely necessary
to enforce any law. While public opin-
ion generally is in favor of the enforce
ment of the prohibition law, it does not
condemn the violator of the prohibition
law as severely as it condemns other
criminals. 1t is my judgment that pub
lie opinion on the question of prohibition
may be made so emphatic that the OBJ
servance of this law shall become as
much part of our ethical standards as
the observance of any other law.
l wish to remind you that Colorado
was dry before the passage of the Con-
stitutional amendment, so that enforc-
ing prohibition in Colorado we are en-
forcing State as well as National laws.
The State is under obligation to enforce
state wide prohibition on this account,
regardless of the National law.
If this Legislature will grant suffi-
cient appropriation, it is my intention
to hold law enforcement meetings in
those sections of the state where the
law is most fiagrantly violated. Such
meetings would be held under the aus
pices of business mems clubs, lodges,
churches and all other organizations
willing to cooperate. / would call to-
gether for an all-day conference, the
judges, sheriffs, deputy sherifs, dist
rict attorneys. and all officers charged
with law enforcement, together with
the municipal authorities of the town
in which the meeting is held. The At
torney General of the state and the
chief law enforcing officer would also
be present. The whole matter of law
enforcement would be discussed from
the standpoint of the county as we'll as
the part the state should play in aiding
the county to enforce the law. Inquiry
would be made as to whether the law
was being enforced. and, in case of
dereliction, we would also consider
what the power of the state is in the
premises. We should hope to have ma
tional prohibition officers cooperate
with US in such a meeting.
At night mass meeting would be
held. At this meeting the whole
question of obedience to law would be
discussed. This would include a discus
sion of the effect of disobedience of
law upon the moral standard of all citi-
zens. This mass meeting would be
addressed by local speakers as well as
those from outside. The result of these
meetings would be new respect for
the law.
BY some such plan should hope to
arouse throughout the state a greater
respect for the Volstead Act, and a
higher sense of loyalty to their oath of
office on the part of state officials.
1t is my opinion that a community
which lightly regards the prohibition
law and permits bootlegging to exist
is an undesirable place in which to
bring up family. Governmental
authority and parental authority, in the
last analysis, are one and the same
thing. A law breaker in the community
| become easily a law breaker in the home
with the resultant curse to all concerned
We must come to the realization tina,
in organized relations, the good OF
society and not the will of the individ
ual, is the supreme law. We mus
arouse such sense of patriotism ir
our people that they will no Longer
tolerate the violation of law.
To follow out the program hereir
outlined will require considerable sun
of money, as well as an increased Law
enforcing personnel. The state i.
willing to spend many thousands ol
dollars to enforce its fish and game
laws. tens of thousands more in enforc
ing dairy and live stock inspection laws
but it is niggardly in spending none,
to enforce the law against illicit liquor
traffic. The influence of the non-en
forcement of prohibition is far more
dangerous to the state than is tn.
influence of the failure to enforce any
of the other laws mentioned.
l sincerely hope that you as legisla
tors will seriously consider this import
ant matter and the program here out
lined. l hope the necessity for enforc
ing this law will appeal to your judg
ment and that you will place at my dis
posal not less than fifty thousand dol
lars ($50. 000) for this biennial periot
for this purpose.
WILLIAM E. SWEET,
Governor of Colorado.