Evening star., 1926-04-23

IiOIlL u II 81 cSS.t
authorities to enforce prohibition, ex-
cept in the case of Evanston and per-
haps one or two other places.
I'VE have suppressed the liquor
traffic in Chicago as a going CONNER
cial enterprise. The bootleggers
have gone to these outlying towns.
Why have they gone? Because Chi
cago authorities have not permitted
them to do business in the city. For
the first time in its history there is
no well known vice resort in Chicago,
no public resorts in Chicago at all.
Denies Olsen Stopped Vice.
"Mr. Olsen told this committee that
he had put out of business the black
and tan cabarets in Chicago. l put
them out of business. l called in the
police, and the cabarets We're told
they had to quit business within "a
hours
Mayor Dever said that if all Off
Gals. county, city, State and Federal,
would cooperate prohibition could be
enforced.
Suppose they do enforce the law"
said the mayor. THAT does not mean
that 1t will never be broken. But we
can bring about a decent obedience to
the law. In that respect the law
could be enforced. But that doesn't
solve anything, and, furthermore,
have never heard of such cooperation
among officials. 1t has never been
obtained in this country, and I don't
see how it ever will.
Judges are human beings. Some
of our Chicago judges have been COM
planned of by Mr.. Olsen. But a man
goes on the bench, and in Chicago he
knows that he will get but one term
of office if he strictly enforces the pro-
hibition law.
Says Judges Hesitate.
1t must be remembered that laws
are made by human agencies and en-
forced by them. 1t is not surprising
that some of the judges halt at enforc,
ing the prohibition law strictly.
Even if we We're able to co-ord-
mate perfectly then we would be
forcing down the throats law which
the people do not want in Chicago.
In Chicago, the City Council con-
sists of SO members representing so
wards, each with a population of
about 5000. The members of the
City Council are elected today with
regard to their views on prohibition.
In certain wards the councilmen can
favor of modification of the Eolstead
law. In other wards man could not
be elected if he said he was a prohi-
bitionist.
Mayor Dever said that deteriora-
ton in the character of public service
was following such a condition, that
other problems of the great munici-
pality were not being considered as
they should be.
Il am hoping the day may come
when we shall give our thoughts 20
something besides prohibition" said
the mayor From morning to night
prohibition is the one subject which
we are called upon to consider. /
have tried in vain to get away from
it."
Wants "Patient Study.
'If you had the old saloon system
wouldn't you have your time taken
up in just the same way with the
liquor problem?" asked Senator Har-
reid. rs there any way you could
get away from it?'
Mayor Dever said that what he
would recommend was "a patient,
courageous and intelligent study of
the whole problem growing out of the
prohibition law and it's enforcement"
There is not a man in America"
said the mayor, who can come here
and say dogmatically: This is the way
to cure this evil Some say that the
best thing is to permit beer and wine.
Others say a repeal of the prohibition
law. Still others say there should be
State control, and a fourth group says
that the Government should handle
the liquor as in parts of Canada
II don't know which is the wisest,
of course. But there is a chaotic con-
dition and something should be done.
There never was a finer body of
men and women in any country than
those who are seeking to drive out in
temperance. They are met by oppo-
nentS who charge them with being
narrow-minded and seeking to force
upon others a law which is obnoxious
to them. Yet their purpose is almost
divine, to drive drunkenness out of
human life. 1t is a mistake to charge
them with wmindedness.
Believe Rights Denied.
ION the other side there are men who
believe that their rights secured to
them by the theory of this Government
are being denied. That there should
be no sumptuary laws. You have
two groups, therefore, battling on
high principles. 1t has been said that
conditions have been better since pro-
hibition was adopted. / haven't the
least doubt that is so in regard to
certain matters. On the other hand
it is said that the manufacture of
moonshine liquor has now gone into
the homes of a great many of the
people, and that is undoubtedly true,