The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-10-13
A woMAN's LETTER.
About Open Saloons on Sunday


Mr.. DANFoRTH. Sir:-Being subscri-
Der | would like TO ask question thro9gL
your columns FIrst-ls there any "a"
prohibiting the sale Of liquor on Tue oao-
bath ? Ii so, who has the power 10 eiiiorce
that law? If the city authorlties nay,
why do they not do it? The Saloon peio"
the Court House is always full, Cd SUNDAY
of men that better things is expected Oh
old men that have large famlileS you see
coming out of there on SUNDAY tnaI cahhot
walk straight, and go down to " nl'.oh
and stay there till nine or ten ciock'
Mr. Danforth, you will correct this ana
print it in your paper. Is there no redress
for woman? Must she be put down Tor
the sake of living with man that gets her
a few days ratlons? Let me know ana
oblige, A SUBSCRIBER
?. S.-Do not put my name In the paper
if you please.
To all of which we answer as follows:
Section 9, OF Division II, of the laws of
this State entitled; "Otfenses against
Public Morality, Health, and Police, reads
as follows:
IF any person shall be guilty Of open
lewdDess. or other notorious acts OF public
indeceucy. tending to debauch the public
morals, or shall Keep open any tipping
house on the Sabbath tag or night, or shall
maintain or keep a lewd house or place for
the practice of formation, or shall keep a
common. ill governed and disorderly house,
to the encouragement of idleness, gaming,
drinking, fornicationor other misbehavior,
every such person shall, on conviction be
fined not exceeding 500 or imprisoned not
exceeding six months.
1t is State Attorney Parmenter' duty
to enforce this law-but it is not his duty
to hunt up violations of it, or hunt witness
es to prove violation Of it. If any citi-
zen knows of any violation of this law it is
the duty of that citizen to 60 to State
Attorney Parmenter and complain; then
the States Attorney will write out the cit
liens complaint then the citizen must
sign it and make oath that it is true
then the citizen must furnish the States
Attorney with the names of good and re-
liable witnesses to prove the sworn COM
plant in court. The States Attorney will
attend to the rest Of the matter and see
that the party complained of is punished.
So much for the State. Now as to the
City.
The ordinance Of the city authorizing
the Mayor 10 license saloon keepers reads
as follows:
/ SECTION /. Be it ordained by the CITY
Council Of the city Of Rock Island, that
the Mayor of said city is hereby authorized
to grant license for the sale of intoxicating.
malt, vinous, mixed or fermented liquors.
/ to any person executing to the city of Rock
Island bond, with at least two securities,
to be approved by the Mayor, in the penal
sum of FIVE hundred dollars, conditional
that the party 50 licensed shall faithfully
observe and keep all ordinances heretofore
passed and now III force, or which may be
passed during the continuance Of such Ii
cense; and that he will not keep open his
bar or place for the sale of such liquors.
nor sell, give away, or in any manner deal
in, By himself, servant, agent or any other
person, any intoxicating, yinouS, malt,
mixedor termented liquors on Sunday, &c,
..&c., including provisions against gambling,
Keeping dIS0rderly house, selling 70 minors,
etc. etc
SEC. 3. Any license so granted may be
revoked upon icriheR notice by the Mayor,
whenever it shall appear to his satisfaction
that the party SO licensed shall have VIC
lated any provision Of any ordinance Of
said city, relating to intoxicating, malt.
vinous, mixed or termented liquors, or any
condition Of either Of the bonds aforesaid
/ In this case written proof, satisfactory
and undeniable proof, in writing, should
be made to the Mayor, in relation
to any violation of the conditions Of
the saloon ordinance, and then the Mayor
Dsag, if in his Judgment he thinks best, re
woke the license
We believe we have now answered all o.
our correspondent inquiries which it i
necessary now to answer, and pointed GU
to her what course she must pursue to cor
rect the evil Of which she complains.