The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-04-04
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUB
LICITY
Dickinson. N. D.,
April 3, 1881.
Editor, Tribune:

April 3, 1881.
Editor, Tribune:
Every city mas its problems of law
enforcement but they are generally
the same, whether q small city or
large. Every city Is bothered with an
clement Of law breakers, gamblers,
and bootleggers being. the chief Of
tenders. "a
Complaints are quite general that
gambling and Bookkeeping are run
mig rather loosely, we hear It here
and there, but officials say, "Well,
make a complaint and we win get
after them"
Now comes the question when any
one takes an office, and Is sworn by
law to uphold the law, are they to be
passive and let gamblers and boot
leggers thrive off the community or
to take the bull by the horns and toll
them each and all to hike out Of town,
with advice to police to see that such
orders arc observed? Or is a city adj
ministration to condone and connive
at gambling and bootlegging until
citizens in self defense become in
censed that a local sentiment Is de-
veloped that will be respected? What
should be an officers duty? Cater to
the bum element or endeavor to keep
a town clean and gain the support Of
the law abiding people7 There Is the
rub. and can any city official wink
at law breaking without weakening
his whole independence and author
ity? 3
In the Dickinson Press of today, 1t
says: Federal Agents Raided Two
Residences Tuesday" and that the
two parties must appear before Fed
eral term Of court at Bismarck on
April 18th.
Right here also Is a peculiar thing.
You will notice this does not say who
was arrested, and that Is about all
the publicity eve given to the arrest
of a bootlegger or gambler.
In contrast to such timid publicity,
If anyone steals a pig, q few chickens
or assaults anyone, such as a fist
tight, it Is written up. the offenders
name given in bold type and suffers
the disgrace incident to unlawful
acts. Why so much timidity and con-
sideration for a bootlegger?
The writer never has done any
sleuthing and usually attends to his
own business, but even with casual
observations, one can. spot a small
bunch of old offenders, who have
never done anything but play poker
or sell booze. One does not need to
have any detective qualifications to
point law breakers out all over the
town. There is something about
them that one can tell from law abid-
ing people. To say that officials do
not know what Is going on Is laugh
able. Then, the independent air and
apparent self assurance of this ele-
ment is such that they have assumed
they have as much right to carry on
gambling and ~bootlegging as the post
office has to sell stamps. Their
nerve Is remarkable.
It does not appear to a casual OBJ
server that this could be so If Off
Gals were trying to uphold a law.
Elections are coming along at this
time of the year, so in addition to the
usual questions to be voted on, why
not add this:
Shall gamblers and bootleggers be
given the freedom of the city,?
Shall gamblers and b~ootleggers be
told to beat it out of town, and stay
cut, or get the boot?"
And to all editors In general, give
a bootlegger just as much publicity
Is you would any ordinary infraction
Of the law, for he may feel sighted If
you do not publish his NAME"
MI. Who's Who.