The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-18
THE LIQUOR LAWS.

now plainly apparent, is decided change, lot
only i'll the policy Of the Police Board of In
dianapolis, but as we'll in the liquor lords
who have so long and so arrogant!y defied the
laws Just at present there is wonderful
awakening on the part of the board and of the
liquor bosses that, 50 long as it continues, will
be good thing for public morals and public
order. The election did it. Before the cleo
ton the saloons were the absolute masters of
the Police Board and of the law. They had
things their own way. The acting superin-
tendent of police paid no attention to the sa-
looms; they could do as they please and did do
as they please Neither police commissioner
nor police superintendent cared to interfere
With them. Every night Sim Coy was at police
headquarters. He spent more time there than
did some Of the commissioners. He made the
police Office his loafng- ground, and not a lit
tie Of the Democratic campaign was planned
from police headquarters, at which Sim
was privileged character, and was given the
freedom of the place. This was perfectly
notorious; but no one was heard to utter a
word of protest, except a newspaper now and
then, and that amounted to nothing. But
the election came on and off, The result was
the election Of Republican State officers upon
platform.tha pledged them to put an end
to the arrogant assumption and defiant law
breaking of the liquor lords, and 10, great
change. Mr.. ODonnell finds it time to re-
sign. and although the Commission
ers stultify themselves with a
windy resolution to the effect that the
ex-superntendent in doing nothing had done
his duty, still the Commissioners suddenly
find it we'll to speak valiantly for the enforce
ment of the law. They name an officer to
take charge of the force who gives the word
that the laws are to be enforced and every
patrolman inhales full breath once more, as
though great weight had been lifted from
him.
This was the result on the police side Of the
case. How was it on the side of the law
breakers? A hurried meeting of the liquor
men is held, and after full and free discus
sion of the matter it is determined to close up
saloons at Ii o'clock aud to keep closed Sun
days, and to obey the law they have been so
defiantly trampling under their feet.
Whether this will last or not,
we do not attempt to say.
This we do say, that it will last just so long
as the authorities desire it to last, and just
so long as the courts will respond to the eff
forts of the executive officers of the law
There is something wholesome in Mr..
Travis's address, especially in that part
where he proposes that the police shall do
its duty or not. That is right and good talk,
and will have a salutary effect. But the eff
forts of the police and of the Mayor cannot
be as effective as they would be if seconded
by Criminal Court intent upon Furnishing
criminals. If the Coy gang of thieves sue
coed in putting and keeping their tool
upon the bench of the Criminal
Court, and a man can be found
dishonorable enough to occupy judicial
position stolen for him by frauds and forger-
les it is possible that the work of the police
and of the Mayor may be, at least partially
nulli6ed. man sitting in stolen seat,
stolen for him at the command Of and in the
interest Of the Liquor League, of course could
not be expected to look a saloon criminal in
the face and sentence him for violation of
law But should one of the courts of the
county be thus disgraced, there is yet much
that can be done, in the line of the Travis
programme, to enforce the laws against the
men who have so recklessly defed them.
There is one other thought The Criminal
court is subject to reconstruction, and it
will be reconstruction the next time that
will put on the bench man fit and ready to
execute the law, as he is sworn to do The
doom Of the law-defying saloon is sealed
The people have spoken in way not to be
misunderstood. The late election made a
square and bold issue on this point, and the
people decided that a stop should be put to the
arrogant assumption and attempted domino
ton of the Liquor League. The people will
never recede one inch from that position. The
saloon must be made subordinate to law, and
the saloon keeper and the saloon tender should
make up their minds on that question now.
The liquor lords have run the length of their
tether. They are at the end of their rope.
They have made mockery of law, and the
law will now return to plague them They
have sown the wind and they are liable to
reap the whirlwind They cannot plead ig-
norance. They have been warned. The