Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-07

appears in this column and we will not hold
ourselves responsible for what appears therein. !
To the Mayor and Common Council of
the city of Grand Rapids,
GENTLEMEN:-It is notorious fact that
the keepers of saloons, sample rooms
and other places where are sold strong,
spirituous, malt, ardent and intoxicat-
ing liquors are repeatedly and constant
ly violating our excise laws and city
ordinances for the regulation of the
sale of liquors and the prevention of
lation we mention:
1. That the saloons and other places
in the city where such liquors are sold
are opened and kept open upon the
first day of the week in violation of
Section l, of Ordinance II of the city of
Grand Rapids. That such violation
occurs with each return of Sunday and
that apparently no attempt whatever is
made by the proper authorities to keep
such saloons and other places closed
upon said first day of the week altho'
Section 2 of Ordinance two prescribes
the duty of the peace officers of the city
to that word.
2. That strong, Intoxicating, spirit
uous and malt liquors are habitually
vended. sold or given away on the first
day of the week at such saloons and
other places in violation of Section l of
said ordinance, and in further violation
of Section 1864 of the Revised Statutes
of Wisconsin.
3. That Intoxicating liquors are and
at various times in the past have been
sold, bartered Or given to Indians in
said saloons and other places of sale bv
owners Of such places in violation of
the statutes of the United States and of
Section 1867 of the Revised Statutes of
Wisconsin and the proper steps have
not been and are not taken to prevent
or punish such violations.
4. That gambling is knowingly and
willingly permitted by the keepers of
several of the saloons of this city within
their saloons or upon their premises in
breach of their license bonds and con-
trary to the laws of this state.
3. That the keepers and bartenders
of the several saloons in this city habit
ually sell to minors, knowing or having
good reasons to believe them minors,
without the written order required bv
law, and to intoxicated persons and
to common drunkards contrary to the
ordinances of this city and the laws of
this state and in breach of their license
bonds.
These constant and open violations of
law endanger the persons and property
of law abiding citizens of the communi-
ty, corrupt public morals, foster habits
of general lawlessness and contempt for
law among the criminal and quasi Grim
inal classes, anC as last and worse
| result impress upon our young men a
| disrespect for law. Such results are
alike dangerous to our popular govern
ment and destructive of our homes,
THEREFORE, We, the undersigned as
citizens of Wisconsin who have deep
interest in the permanence of our pop
ular government and institutions, as
members of the w. G.. Z. U. of Grand
Rapids and Centralia and as mothers,
wives and sisters who desire to have a
pure moral influence surrounding our
| homes and a sentiment of respect for
law in the community where we live
hereby petition you to take the neces-
sary and proper steps to close the
saloons in this city where Intoxicating
liquors are sold, and keep them closed
upon the Sunday of each week to pre-
vent the sale Of Intoxicating liquors to
Indians to habitual drunkards and men
! for the time being intoxicated or bor-
dering on intoxication and to minors
and further to take the necessary and
proper steps to furnish each and all who
violate our excise laws and ordinances
for the regulation of the sale of intox1-
eating liquors and provide against the
evils resulting from the same.
Mrs j. L. BEADLE.
| Mrs A. l.. RIDGEMAN.
Mrs. A. L. P. LOOMS.
Committee