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Past opinions provide perspective

Tue., May 9, 2017

Looking Back reviews opinions published in The Spokesman-Review during this week in history.

Liquor laws, May 11, 1934

In an editorial titled “Enforce the state laws,” the S-R editorial board said the following about state liquor laws:

“The state liquor control and enforcement law is just as obligatory upon city officials as other state laws to protect the public – the laws against theft, arson, burglary, murder, homicide, drunken driving and all the others. The city officials not only owe an explanation to the state to be vigilant in the enforcement of those laws, but have a greater obligation to enforce them for the protection of citizens of the city.

“Refusal or failure to cooperate with the state authorities for enforcement of the laws against the illicit liquor traffic can not be justified on grounds of official duty or the public welfare. Persistent refusal would be sufficient grounds, under state law and the charter of this city, for recall proceedings.”

German invasion, May 11, 1940

Germany’s invasion of neutral countries was the subject of this S-R editorial.

“It has come. The dreaded blow to break the western front stalemate has fallen. Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland are engulfed in the flames of war. The most critical hour of the second world war has struck. Now the full strength of the allies and Germany are joined in a battle that may decide the fate of European civilization.

“There is no element of surprise in what has happened. That Hitler would strike through the little neutral countries when he believed the time had come for a decision, has been a foregone conclusion from the outset.

It continued: “All the horrors of modern war by land and air, so terribly visited upon Poland last September, are now loosed in western Europe. The worst that the imagination of man has conjured is spreading death agony among innocent people.”

Reagan-era scandals, May 12, 1987

An S-R editorial noted the accumulation of people in the Reagan administration investigated for possible wrongdoing.

“Sated by scandal, perhaps, the American people many have had to suppress the urge to shrug and turn the page on learning Monday that the Justice Department has requested an independent counsel to investigate the possibility of criminal charges against a high Reagan administrations official.

“This spring alone, special prosecutors have been investigating the possibility of criminal charges against at least four former or current Reagan aides: Michael Deaver, Lt. Col Oliver North, Lyn Nofsiger and now, Attorney General Edwin Meese III.

“Other administration officials who have faced major congressional or criminal investigations include former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Anne Gorsuch Buford and former Labor Secretary Raymond Donovan, the first sitting Cabinet member ever to be indicted.”

Postscript: Gorsuch Buford resigned her position after being held in contempt of Congress for not turning over documents related to a Superfund investigation. Donovan was acquitted of fraud charges.