Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-29
Bootlegger Lawlessness
Paralleled in Israel
To the Editor of The Star:


There is a famous story in Holy
Writ which has a most modern appli
cation. A period of lawlessness had
AIKEN hold of the people Of Israel. aided
and abetted by King Ahab. The
prophet Elijah contended in vain fol
decency and order, and finally received
permission from God to declare there
should not be rain upon the borders oil
the little kingdom until a better minC
prevailed.
After three years Of drought, both
people and king were reduced to des
peration: the prophet relented and de
manded to see the king. Ahab's greet
ing was typical of men of his stamp In
all ages: 'Is it thou, thou troubler OF
Israeli" Elijah answered, II have not
troubled Israel; but thou and thy IA
theirs house, in that We have forsaken
the commandment of jehovah"
1t is we'll established fact that the
present era of lawlessness in America
has been a problem for 40 years and
more. Ex-President Taft strongly
called attention to it Is years ago. II
Is also a well established fact that one
of the principal causes and promoters
of lawlessness was the legaliZed liquor
traffic. The American people, led by
the Protestant churches, but aided by
all classes of people and subscribers
to all creeds, finally outlawed this
nefarious business. However, although
repeated efforts of the 'wets" to mod
ify or repeal have proved useless, the
uphOlders of the traffic still run true
to form. They have demanded ref
erendums at every congressional cleo
ton since the amendment passed, with
the net result that Congress has stead
lily grown dryer" Receiving no en-
enlargement in political circles, they
have been carrying on a vociferous
campaign of noise and unbridled asser.
ton against the enforcement of the
duly registered will of vast majority
of the American people. They almost
daily attack the authorities sworn to
enforce the law, and shed crocodile
tears over bootlegger accidentally
killed attempting to escape.
The other day in Washington a fine
officer of the Fire Department was
killed by bOotlegger who was violat.
ing every law designed to restrain
him. On the same day an experienced
revenue officer was shot from ambush
near Hagerstown. Do the "wets" lose
any sleep over the ruthless, murderous
character of the assailants of these
ihNh. iCo ttISy nave d WOTu 10 say
about the iniquity of a criminal who
for few paltry dollars, is willing to
put in jeopardy the lives of pedes.
TRANS and officers and even murder
them outright for doing their duty?
Not word. Do they call attention
to the fact that bootleg whisky is des-
tined for bootleg patrons, and that
these patrons know they are encourag.
ing and making certain the breaking
of laws of God and man by patronizing
these people of the underworld? Not
a bit of it.
Without so-called respectable" pa.
irons to purchase their poison, boot
leggers would not attempt to run the
gauntlet of the brave men on the Pc.
lice Department who are attempting
to carry out the will of the people, at
the risk of their lives. Even Mai.
Hesse comes in for condemnation be-
cause he regards his oath of office and
the Constitution of his country as
something that shall not be dragged
in the mire of notification, nor TESTED
out of court.
Like lawless King Ahab, the whisky
opponents accuse the ministers of re-
ligion, the officers of the law and the
legislators who do the will of the
people of troubling Israel" The PEG.
pie of Washington and of America are
not deceived by these specious pleas.
They know it is the lawless bootlegger,
and the equally lawless bootlegger pa.
tron who are the logical and true.to.
form successors Of the Ubiquitous booze
traffic that is dead in America. but.
like all vicious snakes, continues to
squirm with it's head cut off.
Two more innocent victims have
been added to the toll of precious lives
snuffed out by the illegal whisky traf-
fic. Let not the booze lovers deceive
themselves. The crimes lie at their
doors. and the people know it. It is
they and they alone who trouble
Israel. - =,
ROSSEL EDWARD MITCHELL.