The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-01-27
The Rule of Reason

Acting doubtless under a we'll defined policy as laid
down by President Hoover, DR.. James M. Doran, chief OF
the prohibition forces. has announced a revised set Oh
instructions to federal dry agents, adnaonishihs theni
to keep within the law"
This is a pleasant sequel to the hysterical demands OF
fanatical prohibitionists who in their zeal to place the
enforcement of one law over all laws, seem TO feel that
constitutional rights should be ignored and especially
those guarantees protecting our citizens from unlawful
unreasonable ard arbitrary search and seizure.
All right thinking citizens are behind President Hoover
In his attempt to bring about better law enforcement,
not only Of those statutes touching the noble expert
ment' bat OF all laws for the protection OF society.
DR.. Doran might have emphasized also in his book OF
rules that there is no valid reason why greater pressure
should be placed upon the enforcement OF the Volstead
act than in experimenting offenders against inc narcotic
act or the white slavery laws.
A great moral issue is involved in the theory OF prohloi-
ton. The economic phases of the noble experiment"
too often are lost sight Of in the, narrow view that the
dry amendment is merely a curtailment OF personal lib
erty and the use of federal police power to protect the
people against the evil effects Of over indulgence in the
use Of alcohol. To many, there is no moral issue in
volved. The use of simulants to millions is nothing
more than a natural indulgence Of the tastes and they
chafe against governmental interference in a domain OF
what they term, personal liberties"
But President Hoover can take no cognizance of the
bitter divergence of opinion over the wisdom OF the ex-
pertinent. There must be rigid enforcement OF all laws,
parity OF enforcement if you will, as between all laws
d.. Doran has wisely said to his dry squads: Enforce
the law within the law
These admonitions of DR.. Doran should be taken 70
heart also by over jealous state and municipal agents who
pursue with greater vigor, the man with q few bottles
of home brew in the cellar than the highwayman, the
murderer or even the "hit-and run" drivers. Too many
political fortunes have been built around spectacular
raids on homes without due process Of law. This is what
DR.. Doran declares is enforcement not within the law.
President Hoover has a solemn mandate from the
people Of this nation to enforce the dry amendment.
Forty six states ratified it at popular referendum by a
proportionately greater vote than the original text Of
the constitution was adopted by the thirteen colonies.
The ratification was done in a space OF time unparalleled
in the annals of our constitutional history.
One reason true, why, President Hoover feels his
responsibility in the handling of prohibition is the pres
sure Of public opinion back of the Volstead act, all argu-
ment to the contrary. 1t is not a logical reason. however,
why prohibition should be singled out for special enforce
ment. but politicians are only human beings and the most
skillful propaganda is constantly at work agitating vigor-
Gus enforcement, a condition which affects no other class
Of federal laws. Failure to enforce any law brings all
law into disrepute. Hoover and his associates are bring
ing to the people vigorously and manfully, the sgnific-
ance Of their own act when a majority OF them incor-
porated prohibition into the organic law of the nation.
But there is another side to the picture. DR. Doran
in his most recent utterance, serves notice on the radical
dry faction in congress and elsewhere that the admins
tration while siding with them on the point that the law
should be rigidly enforced, will not be stampeded into
~tanatica1 drives to enforce the eighteenth amendment.
Incorporate and illegal methods hamper effective en-
Sorcenlent.