Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-09-28
SOME SIDE LIGHT.

lhe phrnmonnt question IN Cincinnati
to-day IS that of obedience TO law. Thirty.
five thousand people are practically in
rebellion in this city. In other parts oil
the State the same class has been openly
defying the laws of the Common wealth.
In Cleveland. assembled in convention
they have proclaimed their purpose and
an immense mass meeting OF citizens has
recognized them in terms as rebels and
anarchists. The sooner the issue ia thus
joined all over the land, the better. For
the sake Of every inlerers and industry, il
should be determined very shortly whether
liquor or government shall control. For
this rebellion unquestionably centers in
the liquor business. This is the core Of
the whole trouble, though it is breeding
rebellion in other departments.
The reputation of Cincinnati and many
OF its educational and industrial interests
suffer now because of the temporary tri-
umph of very dangerous element. We
are, then, face to face with the fundsm mem
tai question OF obedience to law. But II
is a problem that can not be solved in n
day. The evil is the growth of years, and
has reached the vitals OF municipal gov
ernment, because OF the loleration of the
people. The story is like TO that of Nor
monism.
1t is well TO thoroughly understand the
difficulties in the way of the enforcement
OF legislation against the evils of the liquor
traffic. They run into sources hard to
control. The arrest of the criminal is
comparatively easy, but the conviction DIFF
ticult because of the impedimenis care
fully placed in the way at the very foun-
tain-head. 1t is established beyond con-
troversy that the criminal is entitled to
trial by jury ; but il is not so generally
understood just how the jury is constituted
in the city of Cincinnati for the trial OF
municipal cases. With the agitation for
ant-saloon legislation, especially in the
matter of midnight and Sunday closing
the liqu or interest, failing 10 block il at
the inception, Immediately obtained the
passage of a law as TO the constitution Of
the jury. 1t was that each councilman
should turn IN to the proper authorities
fifty names OF men suitable for the Jury.
The word Equitable" covered dangerous
margin. The great work of the liqnor
element at once WAS, and now is, to elect
Suitable" councilmen, aud the names
turned in for jurymen are carefully in
spected by the saloon-keepers themselves,
and thus it comes to pass that 30 many OF
their peers are on the juries that try these
men. 1t was also provided III the law
that when the councilman does not hand
in his fifty names, this shall be done by
certain city officers, the election of whom
is especially looked after by the saloon
element. In three OF four cases recently
where the councilmen did not wish to
face public sentiment, they have allowed
the enrolment TO go by default and be
reformed by the city officials, whose work
was entirely satisfactory TO The liquor in
teresi. Here, then, is one very serious
obstacle in the way of the enforcement OF
the law, demanding immediate attention,
and until removed there is little hope.
Another important point is as 10 the
liquor legislation with regard to the sale
10 minors. Little children may be seen
every day-last week we saw one but
three years old-enlering saloons with
buckets for beer. But those who Try to
enforce the law against this evil soon find
where The trouble is. The law provides
that the parent may give the saloon-keep-
er written permission 10 sell liquor 10 his
child. Many OF the saoon-keepers keep
on hand printed cards, requiring only the
sign lime OF the parent, which the. solicit,
and obtain only too readily. The parent
may also give permission 10 the saloon
keeper 10 sell 10 his child for the lire Of
others. 1t has been fonnd that il is the
rsresl case where The permission has not
been obtained, when liquor ia sold 10 Il
minor. Why should the saloon-k keeper
run the risk, when he can so easily pro-
tect himself:
Another radical difficulty is with regard
to the constituency of The police force.
The laws on this subject are veiy explicit
ns to The physical condition OF the men.
The policeman must he 30 high, 80 wide,
80 thick, and be able to run 30 far without
Shorlness Of breath, TO kick 20 high and
jump so far, and fulfill various require
nients HI to physical strength. As prom.
inent city official expresses 1t, "IIe musl
be a q. 'lenler animal" But there are no
requirements as TO his intelligence, tenn
per, discretion or common sense. 1t il a
notorious result that many who are brutal
in their instincts, character and conduct
obtain appointment OIL the police force.
There is a sample within stones throw
OF the homes OF the editors of this paper.
A month ago one brutally kicked his wife
down stairs, according to her dealh-bed
confession; and AZ the result OF this and
other cruel treatment, in the judgment Of
the physician, openly expressed, she was
carried to her grave. Policemen are fire.
quently known TO beat helpless persons
over the head with their clubs, aud net IN
an inhuman manner. Their ideas Ci Law
are very low. We have heard one depre-
cafe arrest for the first off,nse, holding
that preliminary warning should always
he givenl The result OF such character i"
that arrests are often blindly nlnde. with
out any intelligent effort to obtain evidence
on the ppot which would asare convection
II il be the case of n saLnon- keeper, lie IL
unable to answer questions as 10 the pa
renls Of a minor who may have been buy.
ing liquor whether the saloon-ks, per had
written permission 10 make the sale
whether ii was actually liquor, and simi-
lar questions which gave the jury reason
"a hla nrotpxf Tor annniiiuI ipkaa mann