The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-01-08

officials to act, in place of doing the
work for them.
How Citizens May Help.
''If you live in neighborhood where
there is one of these so-called soft
drink parlors, and you have knowledge
of different men coming out of such
place during different times of the
day, intoxicated, whereas they entered
sober, such evidence is sufficient
ground for the issuance of search
warrant, or if licensed place, of an
inspection by the proper officials. You,
however, are not required under the
law to make any written complaint,
even for search warrant. If you go
to an officer with the proper facts and
he refuses to act, then charges should
be preferred against him. The law
imposes upon public officials the duty,
of making written complaints. Under
our law such written complaints,
whether for a criminal warrant or
for search warrant. may be made
upon information and belief; that is,
if you furnish evidence of violation
of law to an officer telling him who
you are and where you live, and as
suring him of the truthfulness of your
statements, then he can swear to
criminal warrant or complaint for
search warrant, upon such informa-
ton given him under his belief of the
truth of such information. Another
thing is that people are so backward
and unwilling to go to court and tell
what they know You must remember
it requires evidence to convict, and if
you have the evidence and refuse to
give it, then you are responsible for
tn law breakers going free. Gus
Singer was convicted Monday upon
evidence given by Mr.. Murphy, the
former president of this class; and /
rejoiced exceedingly to know that we
had one member of the class who was
willing to see such prosecution
through. Mr.. Murphy made a SPLEEN
did witness and undoubtedly his tes-
timony, corroborated by another wit
ness, was what brought about the con-
viction of Gus Singer.
Need An Organization.
'I have thought that an organization
might be formed for the purpose of
checking the fast increasing lawless-
ness. Money could be raised for the
purpose of carrying out just such sug-
gestions as I have given. If ones
time is lost in performing civic du
ty, with an organization back of you
to reimburse you, it would encourage
many to act, whereas, single-handed,
they might not be able to afford the
loss of much time. The members of
this class are all men who have to
work for their living. | am quite
sure that, with proper men united to
accomplish better conditions, there
are those who will willingly contrib
ute to fund to recompense those who
are willing to do this work. With an
organized effort, the best ways and
means could be obtained as to speci-
fic violations, by conferences with
those who might be able to direct
lines of action.
''Above all, public sentiment must
be aroused to such an extent that no
official will dare to be negligent of his
duty. With the public on the look
out, each individual doing his civic
duty, and all united in our purpose,
it would not be long before corrup-
ton would disappear and our laws
would be respected.
Use Ballot IntelIigently.
''It is in the matter of the election
of proper officials, especially county
officials, that the people in the exer-
else of the power of suffrage must
watch most closely. With proper of
ficials holding Office, the problem of
law enforcement is, in large meas
ure, solved. Yet, even then, citizens
may always be helpful in giving facts
to officials which are sometimes i'm
possible Of their obtaining. In the
case of soft drink parlors, for in
stance, citizens can frequently get ev-
idence where possibly it may be more
difficult for officers. Something GER
tainly should be done in this line, as
the situation in some of these road
houses is most serious, and soft drink
parlors are steadily increasing in
number in our city and county. How
ever, / do not mean to lift the respon-
sibility from the city, town or county
officials, by suggesting such getting of
evidence by citizens. That evidence
should be presented to the chief of
police, sheriff or district attorney, and
action taken, and it is your business
to see that this is done. If your per-
sonal complaints to the town officials,
sheriff, or district attorney are not
taken care of, go to them and demand
to know why, and if there is no good
reason for such inaction, then pub
lish the facts and let the public know
the facts, prefer charges against
them and have them ousted.
Courts Can Help Much.
con the first Tuesday of the COM
| ing April, among other officers to be
chosen, is a county judge, a municipal
judge, and a circuit judge. Think it
over, discuss it, inform yourself and
decide what you are going to do about
the filling of these offices. The mu-
nicipal judgship is very important
one. Jail sentences by the court
should be enforced with such q vigor
as that they will be of serious conse-
quence to the law violator, as intend
ed by the legislature. We have good
laws on our statute books which gives
such power to the court, in sentencing
law violators, as will make a SEN
tence of the offender to jail at hard
! labor, a real punishment, with no
chance of his evening entertainment
outside the Jail, if such has ever hap
pened. There is nothing the matter
with the so-called Huber law, just
the manner the legislature has pro-
vided. The penalty for a sheriff who
wilfully fails to perform his duty