The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-03-16
Politics and Booze

Whatever opinions may hold upon the wis
dom of the present prohibition system, all will agree
with the position Of the churches which hit at poti
cal control of its enforcement.
The very definite charge is made that in three
States the enforcement of the law depends entirely
upon the political necessities of the Senators who are
seeking reelection.
1.-THE Constitution Is becoming scrap of paper,
the fury system junk, justice JOKE" says the
scathing report on conditions in these States.
What else can be expected from a system where
these enforcement officials, with every opportunity
for blackmau favoritsm and graft are named by
Senators?
What else could happen under system where
these Jobs are regarded as spoils of officer
There is no attempt to even hide the fact that
this is the situation The members OF the senate
saw to that When an effort was made to remove
the enforcement agents from political influence
there was an almost unanimous protest from this
greatest deliberative body" They compelled the
President to parcel out these jobs to the men they
named
Not only in three States where enforcement
agents are said to deliberately ignoring the law
protecting the bootlegger who votes right and Jang
the one who has different idea than that OF the
Senator but in every State politics and booze are
being mixed
pened to the head of the enforcement agents here
when he dared to oppose the political amoltlons
of one Senator James E. Watson.
He is no longer engaged in enforcing the law
It may be possible that the very wide discon-
tent with the present laws, as evidenced by news
paper polls in many cities, is due to the disgust
which the citizen has against the political control of
prohibition enforcement
It may be possible that the law never had
chance, as long the agents and heads are COM
PEELED to decide each day just how to enforce the
law and not injure the political amoltlons OF the
men who give them their jobs.
Certainly there can be quarrel with the
statement that the mixture of politics and booze is
destroying respect for all law.
No one who believes that the law is a failure
wishes the Constitution destroyed by politicians LOT
their own profit and ACKNOWLEDGMENT
NO one who thinks that may have been I'M
wise in our method of attacking the evils Of alcohol
wants notification by grafters.
Both those who are called drys and those who
label themselves as wet rebel against condition
of public affairs wherein the law is put upon the
auction block and sold to the highest bidder.
Just because this law directly affects more peo-
ple than any other law passed in this country,
1t is especially important that it's workings be taken
away from the venal and the selfish
political control of these agents means the
political control of States in which the margin be-
tween parties is close.
The people, all the people, may soon find them
selves ruled by nod to a prohibition agent given
from Washington.
By discrimination, favoritism, prosecution and
immunity blaclmail they can and undoubtedly will
change the results in important elections. 1t is not
pleasant condition contemplate, this possibility
of President being chosen in the not distant future
because of favors granted to booteggers.
Here is platform on which both vets and
drys can combine. If nothing else is done, and the
people, as far as they have had chance, indicate
that they want other things DONE there be
concerted drive against the political grip upon the
enforcement agencies.
A start can be made by defeating any Senator
who has at any time so far betrayed his oath Of
Office as to his prestige to influence in any way
the enforcement of this law
That start might be made in Indiana.