Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-12-05

more appropriate for him to give
some credit to the league for having
secured much evidence and thus as
sist in obtaining enforcement of state
law, rather than to condemn it, when
not even Scott county grand jury
brought in single indictment against
the league or against any of its Of
| ficers.
(However, we will confess that the
municipal judge of Shakopee did issue
warrants for the arrest of two officers
of the league for disturbing the
peace" and the grand jury did con-
denim the league for interfering with
self-government." We hope that in
these cases the general public
throughout the state of Minnesota
may act as judge.)
The Law Enforcement league did
not spring into being by reason of
public officials doing their duty, but
was born of necessity, because of the
refusal of paid public servants to do
their sworn duty, and as long as
conditions causing its inception re-
main, the league will grow.
Strict Enforcement Demanded.
We are glad to learn that a goodly
number of citizens of Scott county
are now openly circulating petitions
among the citizenry of that county,
demanding that the laws be strictly
enforced"
The very fact that the citizens of
that county have taken that step to
get law enforcement from their paid
public officials, whose sworn duty
it is to enforce state laws. without
further ado, is the strongest indica-
ton that state laws have not been en-
forced in that county heretofore.
1t should not be necessary for the
common people to proceed by petit
ton to get state laws enforced. The
paid public officials are public serv-
ants and are in duty bound to enforce
the laws without any special petition
therefor. When it becomes necessary
for them to move these officials by
petition, then we think that evidence
of nonfeasance and malfeasance has
reached a stage that has really be-
come serious.
The very fact that such petitions
follow in the wake of a grand jury
whitewash of the vicious conditions
is ground for real CONSERVATION, and
should be sufficient signal in itself
for the state officials to step in with
honest determination to rid our fair
state of such scandalous and Witty
ing conditions, especially after having
had the matter called to their atten-
ton by various organizations and in
dividuals.
How is it that the highly inquisi-
torial grand jury failed to see what
the common people who now circu-
late the petitions can see?
Citizens Give Statement.
A copy of an open statement given
to the press by delegation of private
citizens of Scott county has been sent
to us, and reads as follows:
Scott County Citizens Demand
Law Enforcement"
That Scott county citizens are not
all opposed to the work done in that
county by the Minnesota State Law
Enforcement league, is evident by
the fact that a representative group
of citizens are very active in circu-
lating petitions, wherein the subscrib-
ers: "do hereby express our de-
sire that the laws of the state of Min
nesota in regard to the operation of
slot-machines and similar forms of
gambling devices be rigidly enforced"
This movement has been growing
rapidly and is expected to get full
support of large majority of the
people of Scott county. These petit
tons will be presented to the county
officials and also to the governor.
Some time ago one of the churches
of that county went on record with
a definite resolution directed to the
officials demanding strict law en-
forcement, copy thereof being sent
to Governor Stassen, as well as to
the local county officials.
These movements are strictly To-
cal, and not sponsored by either the
Hennepin county nor the State Law
Enforcement leagues. Lack of law
enforcement by the local officials is
the basis and cause for this move
ment.
Interference With Self Government"
After such movements by the peo-
pie of the county, it now remains to
be seen how long we'll known scam
dalous conditions will remain without
interference with self-government."
The State Law Enforcement league,
as well as county leagues, are not
dead nor even paralyzed, nor is Scott
county the only field of operation
Evidence of law violation brought to
the attention of the proper officials
sometimes is wilfully disregarded on
most ridiculous grounds.
The league will concern itself chief
ly with checking the acts of paid pub
| lie officials, who have been intrusted
with a duty to perform. We cannot
believe that it is fair or just to i'm
prison some small violator for doing
something which our paid public Of
L q