The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-07-10

Dear Cap. Bruce: am intereste
and amused at your publicity can
paign against the underworld whicl
has for many years past and are nov
in almost complete control of Hel
ena and most other cities and town
in this state. You are evidently hav
ing some success which hope will no
be only temporary.
know the underworld racketeerl
ere a hard bunch to fight. Their opera
lions are so profitable that they cor
rectly, are classed as "big business,
and like all "big business" are con
temptuOus of all moral and legal re
straints. 1t is so easy for them to
hire, bride, corrupt and split with
Acknowledgement officials that it is
almost to be expected that law-en-
forcement has almost completely
broken down. Now add to these direct
beneficiaries, the conniving enforce
ment officers, the multitude of camp
followers, such as lowgrade lawyers
who fatten from the offal of this traf-
fic, and last but not least a multi
tude of cheap politicians who depend
on the support of this element for
their election. These extend into high
er brackets than most Of us imagine
There is no office in this state too
exalted to be immune from this in
fluence. At best this influence must
be overcome by every official, from
Governor, down through judges Of our
courts to officials of our county gov
ernments; at worst-and this is too
frequent for the perpetuity of democ-
racy-these officials when seeking Of
flee follow the avenue of least resist
ance" by openly soliciting the assist
ance of the underworld or evading the
issue entirely.
Now figure for yourself, is it rea-
sonable to expect any law-enforce-
ment by those whose election was de-
pendent, wholly or in part on these
w-breakers? What about the reelec-
ton of an officer doing his duty?
Take, for instance, Helena, Butte, the
Falls or most any other city or town
of any size; how long would any city
official stay in office if he attempted
to carry out his oath when installed?
If an appointive office he might last
twenty-four hours but more probably
not twenty-four minutes. AS an ex-
ample of how our law enforcement
system works out in practice, take
Butte, for instance: Mayor Hauswirth
the chief of Butte. police and the coun-
ty attorney of Silver Bow county ap- |
peared before senate committee |
then considering the repeal of the
law. They all repre-
sented that the saloon and gambling
laws were then not being enforced
that there were just four saloons COM
plying with the law. The mayor did
not state whether these four were
under their own volition or
under his compulsion. He stated that
here were 1859 Tor 269 saloons in
Butte, l have forgotten which, which
we're openly and flagrantly violating
he law. The county attorney COM
planned that he could not enforce the
aw, while the chief of police was
,rieved because his officers were sore
because their nice uniforms were be-
,meared in taking DRINKS home from
saloons and it cost considerable to
)uy new uniforms.
Now that's the kind of enforce
nent you have in Butte. About that
ime, while the legislature was in ses-
ion, considering the repeal of the
gambling law, these lawless elements
pened a joint on Main street, In a
DOM with clear view to the street; L
where many men and women q do
lot know what kind of women), were
anged beside a long table and ap- {
arently openly gambling just to show
heir contempt for the law and in I
his way flouting the legislature, they 5
we're so sure of passing their gambl
ne bill; however, they showed their
rue colors too soon; the bill did not a
ass.
On that showing by Mayor Haus-
nth of Butte, he now thinks he b
hould be given the governorship to a
ontrol the entire state. Just think! r
our saloons out of hundreds obeying t
ne law entities man to claim the n
This number, 4, seems a
} be a charmed figure; in New York t.
70 find also one Dewey, who, having t
onvicted just four grafters, thinks he II
entitled to the presidency of the b
Tnited States. If a man who can t
onvict four out of many thousands s
{ grafters in New York is big enough
, be president, albeit the fact that
e has shown by his speeches an
tier incapacity to understand any o
I the basic problems which are cry
,p for solution then this country