The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-19

the city officials that the police
have not dared to interfere with
them. The politician has been
continuously more corrupt and
the saloon keeper more defiant of
law.
Thousands of arrests were made
every year, but the worst offender,
the big man with the pull, never
was arrested, while the man of
small means was prosecuted with
out mercy. The city authorities,
notably the police magistrates,
the police department, and the
district attorneys toff1ce, were in
league and the saloon keeper al
ternately profted and suffered by
their willingness that he should
violate the law.
Couldn't the same general state
ment be made about liquor condt-
tons now under the eighteenth
amendment in New York state, and,
that being so, can it be said truth
fully that the prohibition law is any
more unenforceable than state laws?
Now let's turn to the other side of
| the picture and see what can be
done when state and local COM
munties do what the eighteenth
amendment of the United States
Constitution contemplates: Exercise
eheir concurrent authority to en-
force.
In the state of Kansas, which had
an effective law of its own for pro-
hibition enforcement long before the
eighteenth amendment was adopted,
the federal government has had
comparatively little to do since en-
actement of the Volstead law. In
one year, for instance, we had to
handle only twelve liquor cases IN
the federal courts of Kansas. But
they were important cases. and the
government won all twelve of them.
The cases instituted in Kansas
range from few or none some years
to nineteen, which is the highest
number, in 1928. Contrast this with
the situation in New York state,
where the federal government has
been obliged to prosecute from 600
to 1000 cases a month, and then
only scratches the surface.
1t is not the difference in the size
of the two states that counts; it is
the difference in the attitude of the
local enforcement authorities, large
ly influenced by the press. The stu
alton, in this aspect, is the same in
Philadelphia, Chicago, and New
York as in hundreds of small towns
and cities.
In some Of the smaller towns in
the country. we have found evidence
of virtual licensing" of bootleg es-
adjustments by local authorities
The practice at Silverton, Colo, in
the mining district, for instance,
was to regularly fine those who
operated what amounted to open
saloons, the fines being used for mu-
nicipal purposes instead of raising
tax rates on the property of the law
abiding citizen
AS long as fines were paid regu-
larry, the bootlegging establishments
were allowed to continue operation
without any interference by the
local, municipal authorities.
I have from time to time-many
times-urged that United States at
torneys, marshals, and key men in
charge of inveStigative agencies be
called to Washington for zone con-
ferences, at viii = a definite policy
of approach to state and local off,
Gals could be worked out
After that, each of the federal
men should go back to his respec-
tive district and take the initiative
in approaching governors, state at
torneys general, mayors, chiefs of
police, and try to work out a scheme
of coordination and exchange of
information where authorities over
lap.
Works Both Ways
This will enable the federal gov
ernment to turn back to the state
the responsibilities for prosecution
of many minor effenses that now
eongest federal dockets. On the
other hand, the state could and
should call upon and receive help
from the federal government in
dealing with criminals where their
operations are of extended or politi-
eally intrenched nature.
Such cooperation can be secured
even in states considered wet"
The arm of the federal govern
ment is long and strong, but it needs
to be re-enforced and aided by the
numerous arms of the state and mu-
nicipal government. With all those
arms of the law reaching for the
lawlesS, the bootlegger's chance of
escape would be slight indeed.
1t would be comparatively easy by
systematic appeal to obtain local
and state cooperation, and would
yield rich returns in reduction OF
lawleSsneSs.
Tin her next iHstallment Mrs.
WillebraHdt will tell the stery of the
battle with Rum Row.