The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-01-18
Baptist Pastor Chooses Sixth
Anniversary of Prohibition
as Occasion to Score COndi-
tions in Capital City -
Blame Placed Upon Citi.
zens Themselves

Choosing the sixth anniversary Of
prohibition in the United States as
an occasion to touch particularly up
on conditions in the city of Bis
marck, the Rev. A. A. Holmes of the
First Baptist church last night ad-
dressed large sized audience, which
included "A number of city,, county
and state officials and law enforce
ment agents. Rev. Holmes dwelt cs-
pecially upon the manufacture and
sale of liquor, gambling, and smoking
in public places, pointing out that
the reason it is so difficult for Off
cials to get evidence and bring about
convictions is that the majority of
the citizens refuse to assist the Of
ficers in the performance of their
duties.
Rev. Holmes said in part:
II have chosen to speak on this
subject tonight because, as you
know, yesterday, January l6, was the
sixth anniversary of the adoption of
the United States Prohibition Law,
or what is commonly spoken of as
theNl8th amendment. ! have an ap-
pr0priate text for this occasion and
it is found in the Book Of Ecclcsias-
ties, Chapter 8, verse II: Because
sentence against an evil work is not
executed speedily, therefore the
heart Of the sons of men is fully set
in them to do evil
"These words are just as true to-
day as they were when Solomon ut
tered them nearly $500 years ago.
To apply those words in a practical
WayS today in Bismarck, they simply
mean that because the law is not
always enforced against the use Of
booze, or against gambling, or the
anti-cigarette law or any other law
that may be violated, men say, 4
will break the law again because
got away with it that time.' If every
time law was violated, the Offend
er was there and then punished for
it, he would soon learn to have re-
spect for the law.
"There is no use~in spending time
to. argue the use Of laws, and officers
to enforce the laws. when all over
our country the jails and pcniten-
tiaries are loaded up more than they
have been for several years.
The Fact OF Sin And Crime
ut is because sin is fact and a
reality that we see so much crime.
Crime is the result Of sin. All sin
is against God and we have to deal
with God on the sin question. Crime
is to be dealt with by our state and
nation, and the laws and the officers
to enforce these laws are the instru-
to use. The complaint on the part
seem to be pOwerless when it comes
- CknrnSur n~.ssS yNhr~n - n
trouble?
'.Now / know it is easy for some
people to blame the officers and
officials for not enforcing the laws.
Some of the common criticisms you
Some Of the officers show partially
foreigner who makes his own booze
some well to do business man makes
it or buys and sells it, he is let go
scott free because he is u friend of
the officers Others say: when
the officers are informed where they
can make raid and get booze and
the bootlegger, they sometimes tip
gone when the officers arrive
many officials are looking forward to
votes Of this bootleg bunch Again.
drink themselves occasionally or
50 they cannot consistently enforce
the law Some are accused Ct ac-
cepting bribes.
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