The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07
LAW ENFORCEMENT

law not violated in any furtive hoe the
1t is open, fragrant and apparently undisturbed.
In each of the cities in which gambling carried
have law enforcement officers city and county, both Fac
of these cities have and police departments Each
them has resident members of the county sherff force in
county In most OF the there are county attorneys charge
with the duty of prosecution for violations of the law
spite of all of these agencies supported by the people for tn
of enforcing the laws of the state the law agans
gambling is openly violated every day. with impunty Why
The Voice charges that there be but reasonable
that question Either must admit that the
and the police departments the county hes and tn
county attorneys bndy inefficient and lax the perform
duty that they have Interior for gnor
ing the law violations taking place If the latter true
spells corruption 1t only thing; that some of
ficials are being paid Off
The average city county official not be scntat
ing genius but neither is he blind, decrept He il
able to and does "get around He knows probably much
better than the citizen what going He knows
and do not let tell differently that the law being
violated day and he knows that the law exists You have
right to ask why it not enforced Common ordinary horse
will indicate why it is not enforced
This being discussed from the standpoint of whether
the law against gambling is good law bad law. We
must approach from the standpoint OF what 1t dong TO
law enforcement officers and to ourselves If there is
sufficient crysazed public opinion support the repeal of
the gambling law why hasn't it done? the people
the state want gambling why hasn't it been egazed
censed like other business? There only conclusion
to be drawn The people of the state do not want gambling
They have declared illegal enterprise and defeated
efforts to legalize it by legislative enactment.
Everyone of city and county officials have taken oath
to support and enforce the laws of Montana. Are to
that the taking of solemn oath little nothing
to them? - they the character of the people wish
ton. is distinctly YOUR BUSINESS. You individual
cannot possibly share in the responsibility for existing
conditions
the organizations doing about
conditions? What the various civic clubs doing? What
other forms of organizations who profess interest in law
enforcement doing? possible organ
cations shut their eyes deliberately to these conditions
vang deliberately and smugy let the conditions and
ignore their existence and the existence of people who thrive
financially them that of these organizations call
the operators at times for financial contributions usually will
ingly given?
ofI
gambling enterprises are looked down upon by those
legitimate enterprises but how far is this osracism caed
Does it extend to the point of barring implicated in them
from membership IN service club or church or some other
organization processing to be less concerned with
porting the adopted laws of society? Or does the usual lib
crafty in donations affect their memory their responsibility
the will of organized society? Or do they realize that
not their privilege choose which laws shall be obeyed and
which laws shall be ignored Society has welded Them wisely
unwisey into chain You destroy of its links at
peril.
any you who read this happen to live in or near
the larger cities of the state Mssoula Butte Helena Great
Falls Billings Bozeman (ohers might be named) walk into
the bars (most of the gambling in hem) and when
you have the gambling going to county or
city attorney both and sheriff police BOTH and
ask them how gambling be carried in their uris
dcon why the law against gambling not being enforced
The Voice Will be Interested in hearing the results OF such
interviews
Voice not embarking on any moral crusade in the
genraly accepted concept of the phrase is bringing only
question for discussion Do want all of the laws
enforced or only part of them.
Where you organized society stop?
THE UNIVERSITY PROBLEM "A
On February H. the State Board of Education meet to
consider the testimony given at the long hearing held by that
body Mssou It's decision will be of interest all of the
people of the state the Board the least bit cognzan of
he attitude of the majority of the people of the state toward
he questions involved their decision will conform large
egree with that opinion from all reports the testimony fl
dduced at the hearing amply justified it. On the other hand
the board is wayed by the influence of the large business
interests the fight will not be will be continued and
ghere and how it will end only be conjectured
The Montana Federation of Labor through president John o
Graham has already in effect notified the board that its
econ regard to Simmons removal and protection of the
Their members the faculty
pport opposition of that organization to the mill levy pr
the support of the University which will be before the
lie Tor Other the state Will
Undoubtedly follow this lead concevably if the Board
Mould render judgment in the controversy which
OF mill would be definitely endangered
Thus really have situation confronting the Board where
set itself UP having it's Oh
greater WISDOM ulscefnmen possessed by
rye numbers of organized people the state without
tha ifa of the