The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-31
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Enforcing the Liquor Law.


To the Editor of tho indianapolis Journal:
The Journal has this to say within our
recollection there never was time when the
police force of the city was more inefficient,
more valueess, so entirely without restraining
influence upon the criminal classes" What is
the cause9 Is the system so ''farcieal" as to be
powerless to execute the laws7 Are the police
insufficient in number, or is it their manage
ment? Three, from the wealthiest and best
business men in the city, to manage them, it
would seem that they would be well handled
If not. then why not9 Can there be an infu-
ence controlling the commissioners so strong as
to induce them to disregard their oath of office,
and allow the police to neglect to enforce
the law, in regard to saloons in particular; and
which can but have a tendency to a course of
carelessness, generally, in guarding and protect
ing the people from the lawless9 If all this be
So is it the power of the Liquor League-of that
class of men who are determined to thrive to
hoard up money if it be at the expense of all
other interests of the people, regardless of the
crime their business engenders and promotes
brought to bear upon them2 Is it not fact that
they have instructed the police to not modest the
saloons at the times they selling contrary to
law, provided their front doors are not open2 If
an lnls oe TRUE, tuen tne query arises WY
do the people allow those three
men to nuify the law that is SO
essential to their best interests If there is a
law in the statutes that makes them liable to
punishment for malfeasance in Office, why do
they not enforce it against them2 Let them feel
the consequences of disregaIdng their oaths
and multiplying the law SO essential to good gov
eminent AS the Journal says, "In the absence
of anything like police protection, people will be
forced to rely on the law and right of self
Then thew q n
this particular, does not there rest grave re-
sponsibility upon them, and are they con
sistent in faultng the police until they
have done that dutyl Three men in the
ordinary walks of life would not escape the just
penalty for violation of law, the evil con-
sequence of which would not be one 1.-THE of
this persistent notification of law by those
police commissioners high in wealth and social
position, yet they escape. Is it because public
sentiment permits it in consideration of that
wealth and consequent social postion9 In the
absence of negative assurances are we not forced
to believe it? The use of strong drink is pro-
the character or conduct of the drinker that
would make him better husband, father or
citizen from its use, while every trait,
engendered in him, is wholly pernicious, in his
every day life, with his family, or in the commu-
nifty All this though he obtain and drink it at
places authorized by law to sell it. But to pre-
vent, in a measure, the pernicious effects of its
USE the authorities have confined its sale within
certain days and hours, aud prescribing penal
ty for the violation of these regulations, have
committed their enforcement to those commits
sioners; yet, and after having taken an oath be-
core God and man to enforce them, they persist
emily refuse to do So Now the people have the
God-given right to inquire "Do those
gentlemen consider their wealth raises them
above all law, or are they silent partners in the
general liquor selling business in the city, and
thus take the responsibility to allow the saloons
to run in full blast, without any regard to those
regulations, merely to enhance their own MERGE
nary gains9 In the opinion of some people they
can only clear themselves of such suspicious by
enforcing the law impartially.
A. S. KINGSLEY.