SLOT MACHINES CAN BE KEPT OUT
Slot Machines Can Be Kept Out [EDITORIAL IN THE WAUKESHA DAILY FREEMAN]. ONE C. E. (Cornie) Zaun, manager of the road-house. Ship, in Waukesha county, and possibly some others, have been laboring...
...NOW comes the subject of enforcement by the sheriff's department and other officials...
...Ship, in Waukesha county, and possibly some others, have been laboring under the false impression that Waukesha county's citizenry was only fooling when It determined to clean the county of gambling, corruption and vice, and to see that it remained in that condition...
...In answer we say: How about the 40 to 50 special deputies throughout the county who are on the staff in case of riots, disasters, etc., although appointed more especially for political reasons...
...They should not be relied upon...
...But you can't keep it free with 20 deputies if operators know that you arrest only on complaint...
...THERE is no need for the citizens of Waukesha county to be making complaints except occasionally...
...Can they not be pressed into service of this sort to make complaints and arrests if necessary...
...In other words, the sheriff relies on the citizenry to enforce the law-, a duty which is his and which he has sworn to do...
...Red-ford's information, if he is not aware of it, the people of Waukesha county do not believe that to be the case...
...Judge Baird impressed the defendant with the fact that Waukesha people are not fooling and mean business...
...We had not been informed of the machine at Zaun's...
...Redford wants that or any other such enforcement means used either...
...Real DETERMINATION calls for more effort than that...
...And for Mr...
...But Sheriff Redford spoils it all, and the citizenry is rightfully made to lose confidence in his policy, when he adds: "We will investigate any and all complaints made at this office...
...They're illegal...
...Redford says his deputies have not the time to enforce the law...
...Waukesha had to enlist its citizens when it called a grand jury to clean up the county...
...Such a plan can be used too without extra expense, or nearly, if the sheriff sees fit...
...But let's for argument's sake conform to his statement...
...But the county does not want to have to resort to such methods and we can't believe that Mr...
...Certainly the depuities do not wait for a complaint to be made about speeding or robbery before making an arrest...
...The fact the office does not act except on complaint is fine news for the slot machine operators...
...We do not agree and neither do the citizens...
...The sheriff's office never made such a regular canvass...
...The sentence could have been as stiff as a term of one year and a day under the statutes...
...In answer to questioning on the matter, Sheriff A. J. Redford says: "As far as this office is concerned slot machines arc strictly out...
...If it were we would not have similarly critcized other sheriffs for lack of action...
...Waukesha's citizens are convinced that one man can keep this county free of slot machines and not be employed full-time at the job either...
...Zaun was given a rude awakening on Monday when Judge Austin J. Baird sentenced him to serve four months in the house of correction for possessing a slot machine...
...But we feel that the policy now employed does not effect real law enforcement...
...The policy of this office is to keep Waukesha county clean of slot machines at all times...
...That is a pleasant sound to the ears of Waukesha county residents...
...As for making check ups of all taverns from time to time, that is impossible because our men haven't the time...
...We received no complaints...
...We so advised before and we offer the same advice again...
...That it takes a flock of deputies to keep this county clean is all poppycock...
...Slot machines may be given a play for weeks or months before some citizen informs the sheriff...
...There are at least one or two in every city, village, and township in Waukesha county...
...The latter remarks lead us and others to believe that the sheriff's department is not as determined to keep the county rid of gambling as it could be or wishes us to believe it is...
...Our deputies have no orders to do so...
...So much for the first arrest and infliction of punishment since the grand jury was discharged...
...This is no criticism of a personal nature...
...It is the duty of the sheriff through his own office to know of violations without depending solely on the people...
...But of course it will be done if required...
...Profits used from slot machines to pay fines is not in order any longer and Judge Baird has the respect of every law abiding citizen in Waukesha county for the sentence he imposed...
...Enforcing the law on that policy does not convince anyone that "I am DETERMINED to keep Waukesha clean at all times of slot machines...
Vol. 10 • May 1940 • No. 21
