The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-11-26
SPIES IN THE SLUMS.
A New Scheme for Purifying
Whiteehapel.
DETECTIVES TO BE EMPLOYED.
THE Law and Order League May be
Tsrnsa Into seerrs society Of
Fffteen Members

Fifteen men attended the adio1rned
meeting held last eveaing I'm the Plymouth
Congregational church for tbs puTpose
Of completing the organization Of the Iaw
and Order Issagueof Seattle. III. +. Kelsey
asked ali present 10 draw up around the
Store and see II some means could not Dc
devised 10 get more interest taken n the
league.
j B. Kiiiigan said the committee q Ere
had been Too busy 70 attend 70 the getting
Of names lie had only got three sigma
lures Many we're found who we're IN full
sympathy wilh remedial or refoFmasoFy
measures for the Punishment OF crime, bit
objected TO hare anything 20 do with i
until II could be seen what the league pro-
posed % do. he proposed . small execu-
tive committee who woaid attend to the
matter
r. r. RoweE said he was unable TO get
any signatures, although he bad spent
SOME time In discnssfHg the subject with
business men. he had two objections 70
meet. One was that the movers in this
thing we're extremists or cranks. without
any defined work. The other was that
there was no ohseGt stated or report Is 20
how the league would operate. What
steps should now be taken to get full
public SENTIMENT Something must be
done.
J. W. Whitehead said be had no names
10 report. He had been out Of the city
some OF the time and otherwise engaged.
He found many OF the business men were
not with the league They wanted 70 know
what action was proposed, how the league
was 10 be conducted, II II were intended &C
IN eraf n
the thin wedge of prohibition. They rather
secuted the idea. and yet they were good,
moral men. and such as we're wanted.
w. O. Hardin said he had secured only
few names Rev f. B. Sutton had got
some and there we're fifty-eight in all He
thought more would be accomplished by
100 good men than all Seattle, and was in
favor OF making il secret society.
Mr.. Rowell said the league proposed 10
have an executive COMMITTEES Of
i've, who should stand the brunt
and do the work; upon these
the success Of the league depended.
and they would report monthly TO the
league after they had done the work.
Mr.. Kiiligan said he was opposed TO a
secret society. That would be a set Of in
formers who would be expected 20 do what
an honorable man would be ashamed 70 do.
His idea was that the league should be as
public as possible 10 create the best moral
sentiment in the city.
Ira IF. Bronson said II there were strong
public sentiment the lass would be en-
forced and there would be no need Of .
q league. such sentiment should be edu-
Gated
Jonas BGshelI said that public sentiment
could be made by the efforts Of half dozen
active men 10 turn in any direction.
There vas need OF law and order league
and fact in proof OF IL was that he dared
not no home 10 Lake Washington after
dark for fear Of being robbed BY highway
man. In Tacoma II was necessary 20 have
q boy sacrificed before the people would
move 70 have law enforced. Form league
and show the people they were In earnest
If the league we're not secret nothing would
be done. and II the criminals were unpre-
pared and didn't know 1ho was after them
they could be caught.
Rev. d. d. Campbell said he knew that
leagues had been success in Cincinnati.
Chicago and other cities, and he thought
something might be done here.
Mr.. Bnshesl explained how leagues were
managed elsewhere. By getting q trusty
spy 10 ret evidence. What was needed
now were grace and grit II there was no
danger then there was no need OF leagne.
Citizens visiting those dens could be spot
ted. forced into court where they dare not
perjnre themselves and the spy need aot be
known.
Mr.. Killigan said he could not as a Chris
tan belong to secret society, countenance
he use Of the devils weapons 10 fight
crime. or use unlawful means to support
any ieagae. Ii was necessary 70 get evil
denee ard 70 DO so in many Of these In
stances was % ask someone 10 become q
criminal by gambling or associating with
prostitutes.
Mr.. Bronson said they wanted the law
enforced every day and not once month
for the sake OF revenue the same as the 20.
lice did However, he was only willing 90
assist in an honorable way.
Rev. Mr. Campbell said such an organ
ixaticn was wanted and he coaId not see
anything anehristian or haTmfuiiy secret
in such a league. The committee WASN'T
going 10 kill anybody or do anything dis
honorable. spies were necessary in Inc
army and the order might have detectives.
The e0estions.wsFe: How 60 focaliEe pnh-
lie sentlmeas. and Who Is going 20 artf
gentleman from California. & retired
eierey man, said he had some knowledge OF
she vigilance committees in California. ard
they had a. have the Modesto regulators
before that place was parged Of is erisni.
rails enc man VAS killed, and nobody
ever knew whseh Of the regulators dai ID.
The sheriff undertook to find oct. bnf was
told 80 lease Is alone. ard he did lie he
iaevea the regulators we're Christians lie
never knew such = vie place as White.
chapel % place on the coast worse than
Seattle. II nothing Vas done tonight il
wouid be almost impossible 20 get another
meeting together,
Mr. Roweli said il was the duty OF Mr..
Campbell and every citizen 60 see that the
lAw was enforced and 70 inform whenever
they kass Of the law being violated. II
we did our daty in giving testimony there
would be less crime "a short sinae
A committee Of eve was appointed b.
prepare for the next meeting . list from
whsgh 80 eieet ofsicaFs.
Mr. Cempaeil aid be rassat IL was uot
his specsAl anty 70 inf~m against erlnlf
nals They die not propose mob Law. %
kssl snyhedy, noF act uniawfaiiy.
There wSs considerable more discussion
In the same lire. and also as TO TIE best
means Il Getting the necessary hnatces.
Mr.. KnseIl sad be had listened 60 the
council Friday evening and considered the
remarks about tie league and wAas il
shOaid Do were brilliant. considering me