who was a
friendly acquaintance of the former liquor man, who has now turned
bootlegger. Policemen are selected because of their acquaintance with
the underworld and they are very human. Void of any contacts with the
better element of the community, they allow their friends to run wild
in lawlessness until the affair gets beyond control. That's what
happened in Bransford; that's what happened everywhere. Lawless greed
flourishes in the atmosphere of negligence.

"But I didn't come here to quarrel with the better element of my home
town," concluded Shirley as he reached for his hat. "I had hoped that
you had a solution, a plan, to meet the oncoming conditions. Just now
the States are voting to repeal the amendment. It seems certain that
it will be repealed and within the next year or two, the old saloon
will be functioning as in former days. It will pay a tax to the
government on the product sold, it will pay a tax to the city, it will
furnish a bond to operate legally and at stated hours, and its return
will be welcomed by many. But remember that the greedy and grasping
back of it all will overdo, as always, and the amendment will be
re-enacted. This time, if it has the support of a well-organized
enforcement committee, it will function despite the efforts of the
greedy."

19

The Bransford Morning Herald contained no account of the meeting at
the Fourth Avenue Church. News of the rebuff as administered to the
better element by a rank outsider was slow in gaining circulation. But
the incident was not wholly suppressed. Judge Parker, who had been
present, chuckled the incident to a few friends; Holstroff, the
merchant, recited the details to a few customers as they discussed the
probable outcome of the state elections now being held; and Joe
Dansford, the church janitor, told the incident of how the meeting
ended in a general row, without the formality of a motion to adjourn.
Lacking a correct account, the general public of the little city
elaborated the story to include fisticuffs and swear words.

Carson Wells, of the Wells National, heard the story and was much
concerned. It affected his leading customer. Just now, banks were
closing in increasing numbers, local factories were shut down,
retailing limited to bare necessities, and only one concern in the
community earned money. Carson, as well as the managers of the Model
Trucking Company, realized that in the event of the repeal of the
amendment, ruin wa