The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-03-17

WE publish elsewhere in tn Is issue
communication from the Grand Worthy
Chief Templar of this District bearing
generally upon the comparative duties of
the police and the temperance organiza-
tions in relation to the violations of the
liquor laws, and especially with ref
erence to the sale of intoxicants to minors
1t is also in the nature of reply to some
suggestions made in The Critic on Friday
last, and it cannot be permitted to pass
without comment.
We cannot and do not believe as Mr..
Kalstrom intimates that the police force,
as force, backs up the bar-room interest
and refuses to make arrests for fear that
the saloon business may be crippled. There
are individual members of the force who
do wink at the violations of law, but it is
unjust to accuse the whole force of that.
But suppose all of the charges were true,
how does that relieve tho temperance or
ganizations of their responsibility
These organizations have set themselves
up as the conservators Of the morals of tho
people on the temperance question. 1t is
all very well for them to hold their lodge
and division meetings, induce people to
sign the pledge and enjoy programme of
vocal and instrumental music and speeches.
Having done this are the members of the
different orders to sit down quietly. fold
their arms and say they will do no more?
This is a hard, practical world and in the
battle of life practical questions must be
met in practical way.
We have society for the prevention of
cruelty to animals which is doing great
deal of good and which daily brings some
offender to the bar ofjustice. How? Why
by the employment of an agent, and by
each individual member taking an interest
in the work, noticing the violations of the
law, causing warrants to issue and secur-
ing the arrest of the offender. They go
into court with their evidence and the OBJ
ject for which their organization is formed
is secured. Suppose the members of this
society should act upon tho theory sug-
gested by Mr.. Kalstrom and declare that
they were not "ready to perform the du-
ties for which police force is paid and
maintained" how many soro-backed mules
or sick horses would be relieved of their
burdens?
1t is the business of the police force to
serve warrants when properly issued, to
make arrests when crimes or misdemeanors
are committed in their presence or whom q
hue and cry is raised, but 1t is none of
their business to make arrests on mere sus-
picion or to hunt up witnesses to mako a
case. They have not the time to do that.
Here is where the practical, earnest
work OF the active temperance workers
should come in. A member of the
order sees boy reeling from saloon.
Does he do his duty if he passes by on the
other side and assumes that he is not his
brothers keeper2 He has set himself up as
conservator of morals in this regard.
| He has enlisted as a soldier in the temper
ance army, and is II not his plain duty TO
| find out something about that reeliug,
drunken boy, to ascertain who sold him the
| liquor, to make case If he eau, have q
warrant Issued and have the party accused
arrested and tried That would be prac.
tlcal work, nor would it be performing
the duties for which police force is paid
and maintained" 1t would be an act OF
humanity, and of higher grade than the
act of member of the Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Animals, who takes
interest enough in the cause to stop an
overloaded mule and have the driver or
owner arrested and punished.
The trouble with all of our temperance
organizations is that there is too much talk
and not enough of hard, practical work. The