Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-09
THE BLOC W MAJORITY, ONE
PHASE

cal practice Is majority rule. With
out respect for that our civic affairs
must soon get in bad way. We are
seeing plenty Of evidence of this all
about US. One phase Of II. conspicu-
---eus right now in this State. notwith-
standing 1t Is probable conditions are
better here than in many states, per-
tains to the enforcement Of the pro-
hibitory law.
We have the community bloc with
the police leaving the enforcement to
sheriffs. the county bloc leaving II to
the State, not to mention the ten
dency among the States taxpayers
and voters to leave enforcement to
the federal government.
Indications of an awakening sense
The manager Of Portland's city affairs
would have the police authorities of
that city aid the county authorities.
Common sense endorses that view.
There are conflicting views respect
Ing what the officers patrolling our
highways should be expected to do in
the way OF aiding in the enforcement
OF the law against rum running. That
conflict should come to an end.
or course there are duties for
which the highway police are en-
ployed. Presumably these were in
mind when the number employed and
the duties assigned were determined,
and when the money to pay them
was appropriated. Under such con-
ditions, and assuming that the work
they are called upon 10 do Is SUI
fcient to occupy their time, there re-
mains little effective work beyond
that which they already do to be ex-
pected of this force unless 1t shall be
enlarged with the wider scope Of duty
In mind, as 1t should be. The like
might be said of the municipal police.
Right here would seem to be n good
place to raise tho question whether
the transportation of stolen goods
through their territory and under
their eyes would receive their attcn-
fort to apprehend the criminals or re-
port them to other authorities,
whether they should be permitted to
excuse themselves on the ground
they had enough to do. weren't paid
to do that. and so forth.
Smuggling liquor is a crime, trans
porting 1t Is q crime, selling ii Is a
Crime--and In Maine. tuying It Is n
crime. Here is an aggregation of
criminality important enough to at
tract the notice of the authorities Of
the law In whatever sphere they are
employed! Add to this the patent
fact that bookkeeping is the slimlest
proposition I'm crime. that a people
may endure. aud allied with most
kinds OF criminality, not excepting
murder.
The laws which make these acts H.
leEal are supposed to represent the
majority sentiment. II they do not
why does not the majority assert it
self? Aren't our lawmakers respon-
sive to. that majority sentiment? II
we don't make our sentiment felt by
them whose fault is It? If we are too
shiftless. too engrossed in something
else to look after such things we are
q nuisance and a menace to ourselves
and to the country In which we live;
we are contributing to undermining
law and order; we are enemies to
Americanism.
We cannot excuse ourselves nor
successfully pass the buck by saying
that the radicals, the noisy. the pro-
fessional rcformers arc listened to by
the makers while the great body
of orderly citizens going about their
business are being overlooked. II the
majority are not listened to 1t Is be-
cause they are not attending to their
business. which in America, at least.
should include expressing their con-
victions respecting the management
OF public affairs and endeavoring to
put them into effect.
Unless this be done we indirectly
encourage w-breaking. The alter
native cannot be avoided. The posi-
bilities of crime owing to such indif-
ference and conflicts between blocs
OF authority, blocs OF greed. blocs OF
!disgruntled. and all that. never were
80 great as now.
80 II anyone Is seeking proof OF this
he need not so outside the range OF
his own vision, assuming the seeker
TO be Intelligent and observing. But
4i1ere is an instance which seems
worthy Of mention: the jail physician
In Essex county. New Jersey. reports
that 64S were admitted during 1898
for alcoholism. where. In 1922. but IS
were admitted for like cause. Think
OF the iniauity this represents. the ef-
feet on the mind Of the public. Il
this the kind OF Americanism with
switch we would enlighten the world !
U. 8. District Attorney Dyer has
2sked the people to help him enforce
The law In Maine. He simply asks
Them to stop buying liquor. Without
patronage bootlegging would stop. II
NJ who would vote for prohibition
SHOULD refuse to buy liquor. thai
would help nightly. II those who
would vote for license are defeated
hx majority Rsntimsnt for prohibition