Evening star., 1927-02-16

y, condemned as vicious and demoraliZ-
| ing, even by the prohibition investiga
tor who operated the New York speak
| easy. For such tactics there 10 no
| defense in law or morals" The Da n
| Vile Register feels that the Govern.
ment made false step" and the
| Racine Journel-News expresses the
hope that the sea nda lous practices
| will cea se,' The Columbus Ohio State
I journal contends that experience.
as well as common sense, shows that
the prohibition cause cannot be
| strengthened by resort to means
| which offend straightforward, fair.
minded and disinterested people"
Secretary Andrews tells the SEN
ate" as quoted by the New Orleans
Tribune, that undercover Federal
prohibition agents are forbidden to
entrap citizens deliberately. He says
that they are employed chiefly In de-
tecting smuggling along the Canadian
border. He adds that Government.
operated 'speakeasies' were used to
obtain information on large bootleg.
ging rings, but have been discon-
tinued. Remember the sad story of
the Orleans mOtorist who saw a man
lying by the road, apparently injured.
gave him a drink from a flask to re.
vive him. and was promptly arrested
by the injured man., who was q pro-
hibition agent"
In support of the undercover prac.
tices, the Richmond Times Dispatch
describes them as merely variation
of the system followed by every ma.
tionai. State, municipal and rural
policeman In the world. who is worth
his salt as a policeman" The Lynch.
burg News makes the reply: Not
even fiction. except in czarist Russia.
has accused detectives of committins
murder or robbing homes banks or
men. or otherwise deliberately violat.
Ing the criminal law. as a means of
getting evidence against the worst
types OF lawbreakers. Neither
the prohibition law nor any other law
is sacred enough to justify agents
proFocateur in the United States"
The Norfolk Ledger. Dispatch SUP.
ports the News with the statement:
We cannot believe that such methods
are necessary for the enforcement of
any law. If they are, such a law
shouiu not remain on the statute
books"
Yet the Philadelphia Evening Bul.
ietln points out that "a detective does
not treat criminal as he would a
law'abiding fellow gentleman. .Spotter
evidence has been the point OF at.
tack for the opponents Of LIQUOR law
enforcement ever since there were
laws for the restraint of the liuuor
fraffic> and that antedates Federal
prohibition by scores of years. But
there Is no reason" continues the
Bulletin. why the detective work nee
essarN FOR the enforcement OF the pro.
hibition law should not have resort
TO every means that Is considered
legitimate in such aid to the enforce.
ment OF any criminal law on the
hooks The New Bedford STANDARD.
taking a similar position. cites the
case OF trooper in the Pennsylvania
constabulary who, lin an effort to
solve a diamond robbery. Joined q
gang of bandits" then learned of a
pian TO ROB bank and helped to
carry 1t out" The Standard saws he
took part In the planning OF a crime
with view to clinching the case
against the criminals--did, in short.
the things that make the vets nv into
a rage when they are done to a rum.
runner, ana we have no doubt that
he VIII be heartily commended for
his success"