The Portland daily press., 1884-07-28
The Mayor and the Law and Order
League.

In the paragraph introducing the paper
3 sent to the Mayor, Tor, mere correctly, left
with himl BY the committee of the Law and
Order League, and printed in the PRESS on
Saturday, was the statement that no formal
reply to 1t had been received. The letter
came to us from the Argus Office, and when
we inquired whether there was not letter
from the Mayor we were informed that
there was none. We now presume, as the
Argus itself made mention of reply in
connection with its publication of the paper
that the answer to US meant that there was
no ether letter to be sent to the PRESS; but
we understood 1t to mean there was no
more of the correspondence; and our pre-
sumption was that the Mayer had concluded
to make no other response than he made or
ally when the committee called upon him.
It did not occur to ua to suspect that any
body would give out for publication a
grave complaint made to the Mayor con-
eerning his performance of public duty, and
withhold the Mayors reply which was in
his possession. The explanation made to
others that the Mayors reply s'was not sat
isfact0ry," was never communicated to the
PRESS. But the fact that 1t was not salts
factory TO the gentlemen who received 1t is
not good reason for suppressing 1t when
putting their own side OF the matter before
the public.
Having made this explanation of the cir
cumstaHces of the partial publication made
on Saturday we now publish the complete
correspondence, the letter of the Mayor be-
ing supplied by him.
THE coMAITTEE's ADDRESS.
To His Honor the Mayor:
Strive who wait upon you are a0ommittee of the
Law and Order League, instructed to represent to
yen that the law against the liquor traffic is very inn
perfectly enforced in this city, We are instructed
address ourselves to you, as the head Of the police
force, the members Of which, IL faithful to their
sworn dEty sufficient to extirpate the secret IL
Quor traffic entirely from the city We need not tell
your Honor that this traffic on however small scale
may be carried on in this city, great evil to the
community, and an inexpressble mischief and mis-
cry to great many of our people. No one knows
that better than your Honor does. The Law and
Order League cannot consent that the officials whose
duty 1t s to protect the community from the liquor
traac, which Mr. Senator Morrill, justly stigmatized
az the gigantic crime OF crimes" who are appoint
Cd any paid for that purpose shall continue to neg
lest their sworn duty. whereby great injury and
suffering are inflicted spon many of people. II
the ofncials cannot be moved by considerations Of
honor to perform their duty, the Law and Order
League believes that they may be constrained by the
courts to do It.
W. w. THoKAs, GEORGE L. KIMBALL,
NEAL Dow, RUFUS DEERING,
AIRRKn W00nMAN
CARLTON KIMBALL, jon 7. SANFORD.
VIII. HOBBS.
THE MAYORS RESPONSE.
MAYoR's OFFICE, /
July II, 1884,
AeSsrs. ". H. Thomas, Neal Dotc, Alfred Wood
ss&B, Carlton RimbGh, ". II. Hobbs, George L.
KinsbaH, RssfHs Deering, 7homos Edtcards, job
T. Sanford, Committee Of the Law and Order
League:
Gentlsmen-I have considered your communica-
ton, and am uncertain whether 1t Is q personal
charge against myself, or a complaint against the
police force If the former, deem no reply neces-
eary. II the latter, your general and indefinite
statement Of the neglect of "their sworn duty" by
them gives nae no assistance in remedying the evil
of which You complain,
Icertainly am dssirous of enforcing the prohibit
ory Law as fully and impartialy as practicable and
ns ponce department understand that 1t is the duty
Of all its members to do so.
II any Of your association have knowledge of spe-
eihe acts Of neglect of duty violation of duty by
any member Of the force, susceptible Of proof, and
will communicate it to me, will do all in my power
TO remedy the evil.
The oral suggestion Of Mr.. Carlton Kimbsll that
oosrs should be directed to use their revolvsrs un
der certain circumstances, cannot for one moment
be entertained.
Your suggestion that the officers may be con.
strained by the courts to do their duty is one
TO me, and upon inquiry am advised that it is
roneous and that the courts have no voice in the
matter. Very respectfully,
MARQUIS f. KING.
As we said on Saturday the document OF
the committee does not set forth too strong
~ the duty of enforcing the laws, and it il
quite proper that any citizen who thinks
there is remissness in any particular should
complain in the proper quarter. And it Ii
true, also, as We then said, that the lawI
against the liquor traffic are not strictly en-