The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-02-08


The Citizens Law and Order League of the
United States was organized in fremont
Temple, Boston. Mass, February p, 1888, by
Delegates representing twenty-five Law and
Order Leagues, located in eight of the United
States. The attendance was large, the inter
est deep, and the meeting in all respects
success.
The origin of the law and order movement
was an effort on the part of few citizens of
Chicago in the fall of 1877, to enforce the
laws forbidding the sale of liquors to minors.
The cause of the movement was the discov-
cry of the appalling fact that IN violation or
those laws, the saloon keepers of Chicago
were selling Intoxicating liquors to many
thousands of Chicago boys.
The process OF the movement was extreme
ly simple. One or two reliable witnesses made
notes of persons and places violating the law,
and then commenced prosecutions against
the offenders for such violations before pos
lice magistrates or justices of the peace, and
upon the trial of the complaints proved the
facts, and demanded judgments inficting the
penalties of fine and imprisonment prescribed
by the law.
The practical success of a persistent de-
mand that the laws be enforced and obeyed
was SIMPLY wonderful. The working force Of
the Chicago League did not exceed q half
dozen men, with the encouragement and sup
port of not more than hundred citizens.
Treating the movement at first with derisiOn,
the salOon-keeperS soon found it too serious
and potent to resist, and yielded, with more or
less of protest and opposition, an obedience
which they found themselves unable to with
hold. 1t Is estimated that nve-SiXths of the
evils of selling liquor to minors have been per-
manently suppressed in the city OF chicago
through the efforts of the Citizens League,
with corresponding benefits to families tax
payers and the community generally. These
statements are made on the basis of the
official reports of the Chicago League. Those
reports have been freely published in the
newspapers of the city, and have been the
subject of frequent comment in the public
press and in public addresses, and their cor
rectnesS has never been seriously questioned
so far as l am informed.
Actual experiment proved that equally great
and decisive results were obtained by similar
course in smaller Cities and in country towns.
In some cases the results were even more
complete and satisfactory.
The accounts published in the newspapers
stimulated similar organizations in other
States Like results followed wherever the
effort was faithfully made, and the movement
advanced from city to city, and from State to
State, until it finally eliminated in the organ
iZation of National Law and Order League,
as above stated.
Calls for information and personal assist
ance have been received from many parts of
the Union, and inquiries for documents and
directions have also GOMEZ to hand from for
eign countries.
The inherent merit of the movement alone
has spread its influence and multiplied its
organizations. 1t has no propagandist in the
field. The officers and advocates of the exist
ing Law and Order societies have only gone
where they have been called, and in most
cases only where the calls have been urgent
and repeated. This has not been from any
unwillingness to do the noble work of the
movement, but because they are all busy men
with many responsibilities and cares, who find
it difficult to spare the time to make journeys
and assist in organizing Citizens Leagues in
other localities.
To promote the organization of Law and
Order Leagues in places where they do not
now exist. and to point out the easy way in
which such organizations MAY be effected, is
Snpcitip object address,
stitutionS and bylaws Of the Citizens Leagues
of the city of Chicago the States of Illinois
and Massachusetts and the United
States are appended to the printed
proceedings of the convention by
which the latter was organized, and
may be obtained by writing to the Secretary,
Mr.. j. c. Shaffer. rs Washington street, Chi
cago, Illinois. Those proceedings and the APP
pendiX thereto contain all necessary informa-
ton for the organization of law and order
societies, with other interesting matter, in
Guiding brief reports of the speeches of
Bishop B. H. Paddock, Rev. James Freeman
Clarke, Ex-Governor Thomas Talbot, Hon.
Rufus S. Frost DR.. Daniel Dorchester, Andrew
Paxton, President f. f. Elmendorf, and
others, at the National Convention. The en-
tire proceedings show that the National
League was the result of spontaneous move
ment in favor of better enforcement of the
Jaws, and that the organization entered upon
It's work with an earnestness prophetic or
success.
Mr.. Elmendorf departed this life October II,
1885, and at meeting of the Executive Com
mittee, held in Boston December 5, the under
signed was elected to succeed him as Presi-
lent of the League. / have on another occa-
gion paid my tribute of esteem for his char
acter and services, and sorrow for the loss
sustained in his decease, and therefore for
bear to dwell upon them here. | hoped ana
expected that bis successor would be an emf
rent citizen of Boston, but have not felt at
liberty 10 decline the responsibilities imposed
by the choice of my associates in the impOr-
liant work of law enforcement.
The proceeding to organize a Law and Or
der League is not difficult. Any good citizen
tan effect such an organization in his locality.
He need at first only obtain forms of Organi-
ration from the Secretary, and invite few Of
ais fellow citizens to meet him and consider
the matter. If they agree they can at once
select officers and form a League. The work
g1g force required is a Prosecuting Agent.
The money needed is the amount required to
ray the agent and defray the incidental ex-
lenses. Public meetings OF Citizens Leagues
ire generally held in churches, ana on Sum
lay evening, the enforcement of the laws be-
Ing recognized as promotiye of all the best in
terestS of society.
1t is particularly requested that full and
prompt report of all organizations that have
heretofore been, or shall hereafter be, organ
lzed be transmitted to the Secretary of the
United States League. 1t is important that
this be done, that the central Office may have
the nee essary information of the extent and
success of the movement, and that documents
may be sent to the proper officers of the diff
ferent State and local ORGANIZATIONS.
The annual meeting of the United States
League for 1854 will probably be held in
August Due notice will he given of the time
and place of the meeting, that the State
Leagues may send delegates The member
ship of the National Convention will consist Of
delegates chosen by State Associations that
agree with the object of the United States
League, which is to secure by all proper means
the enforcement of such laws and ordinances
as may from time to time exist in the United
States, and the several States of the Union,
tot trail &c
important that all local Leagues shall become
members of a State organization, in order that
the delegates to be appointed may properly
represent the different Leagues within the
several States.
While the present work of the law and order
movement is concentrated on the single point
of enforcing the laws tor the regulation and
restraint of the liquor traffic, and especially
the preservation of the youth of the country
from the evils it engenders the vital principle
of the movement is as broad as the domain OF
of constitutional liberty. The vital principle
is the supremacy of the laws. Liberty must
be obedient to the laws that self-goYernment
enacts, or liberty itself will degenerate INTO
anarchy and perish. 1t is generally admitted
that the laws for the restriction of the liquor
traffic are the most difficult of enforcement.
If they can be enforced any others which
public opinion approves can be carried INTO
effect. The law and order movement is man
ifestly entitled to the support of all good cit
liens, unless it can be shown that those en-
gagged in the liquor traffic are entitled to spe-
cial indulgence to disobey the laws. ali other
classes are required to yield obedience to
the requirements of the law-makIng power,
and the last persons who should ask to Do
made an exception TO that rule are the saloon
keepers and liquor dealers.
The Law and Order Leagues deal with the
laws as they are, and seek their enforcement
whether they provide for license, local option
or prohibition. If any there be who regard
the laws as too severe, or as not strenuous
enough, they may apply to the law-making
power for any change they may desire. 1t is
not the province of the Law and Order
Leagues to discuss the propriety or impro-
priety of the laws, except so FAR as such dis
cussion may bear on the question of their en-
forcements
For further information in regard to any
phase of the subject. application may be
maze to the Secretary, whose address is above
given. Persons VINO desire to contribute to
the PecunIary support of the National Law
and Order League may remit to EX-GOVERNOR
Samuel Merrill, the Treasurer, at Des Moines,
la, or Mr.. j. G. Shaffer, the Secretary, az
Chicago. or Hon. Rufus S. Frost at Boston.
The supremacy of the Lars is platform on
which all good citizens can stand together;
and the enforcement of the laws enacted to
prevent intemperance, pauperism and crime,
and promote industry, prosperity and good
citizenship, is work in which all who are in
crested in preserving the youth Of the eoun-
try from habits of dissipation and vice can
heartily unite. CHARLES C. BONNEY.
President of the Citizens Law and Order
League of the United States.