St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-28
to see to the enforcement of
For Good of the City.

For Good of the City.
1.-THE hour has arrived" he said, ''fOr this
committee 20 make its report. One week ago
tonight we were called upon to consider cir
cumStances which threatened the peace and
good order of our city. prize. fight had
been arranged; the authorities refused 10 IN
terfere; and the city was at the mercy of these
people. The expression of opinion here a
week ago prevented that fight and saved the
reputation and good name of the city: IL is
proper at this time that report OF all that
has occurred should be made by your serv-
ants. The dignity and peace of our city has
been preserved, and it is only proper thatyou
should know how it is done. But there are
other evils existing In this community.
Gambling houses and saloons are running IN
defiance of law, and, while 1t IS Impossible,
perhaps in a city so large TO secure the en-
tire enforcement of the laws, but much can
be done. Before this report will be read a
few addresses will be made upon the pur-
poses and objects of this meeting"
Rev. C. B. Wilcox. of the First Metho-
dist church. was first Introduced. He con-
graduated the audience upon the success
won in suppressing the prize fight. He
was anxious that the excitement and ag-
itatIon should not be spasmodic. The
union of the churches was referred to-.
and pronounced the proper thing. GOV:
Merriam's action was mentioned and
indorsed.
''When saw that vast audience" he said,
was not surprised that the cry was On to
the capitol was not surprised that the
governor was at q loss how to act; but he
came grandly and nobly to the rescue, and
am confident he lost nothing by It. his
name has gone out to be honored through
out the length and breadth of tie land. 1t
has been said that st. Paul has lost IN ma
terial way, but l do not believe it. We do
not want as citizens the sports and thugs and
riff raft of all cities, and l am satisfied that
st. Paul was advertised by that action as IL
could have been i'll no other way.
Continuing, he declared the law must
be enforced.
What is there about the saloon" be said.
that it should have one day more to do busl-
ness than any other establishment
Russell r. Dorr, president of the
Bankers Life, followed in carefully
prepared speech, devoted to eulOgy of
the work accomplished by the meeting
of week ago. He took the position
that the people were responsible for the
local government, and that they could
enforce tho law if they desired. He de-
MED that laws could not be enforced
unless public sentiment was educated
up to it. The law is the measure OF
Public Sentiment.
II a community has morality enough to
pass law. it has enough power to enforce it.
In closing Mr.. Dorr made an earnest
plea for an impersOnal fight, that was
received with loud and lengthy ap-
plause. He said:
Let us then, as far as possible, eliminate
all personality from this movement Let us
for the present forget the personality OF Rob
ert A. Smith and John Clark: and deal only
in an official capacity with the mayor of st.
Paul and its chief of police. Through the
influence of such a movement great good
may be accomplished supported by the hrm
adherence of the best element OF our popula-
ton We shall then move forward TO the ac-
complishment of great reforms. ''With malice
toward none, with charity for all, with firm
ness in the right as God gave us to see the
right let us strive on TO finish the work we
are i'm So shall the law be made supreme,
and respect for law become the governing
influence in our municipal life.
Enthusiastic applause greeted Father
HeffrOn, the youthful and gOOd-natured
priest. as he walked forward and took
his place on the stage. He considered
it good omen when the different re-
Iigious faiths united their efforts in the
interests of good order. A citizen is a
factor not only in the making but also
in the
Observance of Laws.
"If the enforcement and observance OF law
in st. Paul has not been what it should have
been" said Father Heffron. 'we ourselves
owe debt to the observance and enforce
ment of law
The speaker conceded that there were
dead-letter aud useless laws on the
statute books that no reasonable man
would call upon the officers to enforce,
but there were vital and necessary laws
that all reasonable men would expect to
be enforced, and in this the officers of
the law should always have the support
of the people.
"Some time ago." said the speaker, IAN ag-
itatiOn was set on fooS to secure tie closing
of Sunday theaters. The movement failed,
and why? The avowed reason was that there
were people enough in st. Paul in favor of
Sunday theaters to assure the managers that
the sentiment against them was by no means
general. They said Sunday performances
pay: they pay because people attend them;
peopie who attend them are not opposed to
them, therefore public opinion is not against
Sunday performances at our theaters. There
fore Sunday performances at our theaters
continue The other instance was the prize
might and the fight went elsewhere.
Committees Report.
Senator Mcmillan now announced
that T. A. Abbott, the secretary of
the previous meeting, would read the
report of the committee of vigllanteS
on chow it was DONE" This Mr.. Alb
bott did in clear, ringing voice.
The report, signed by W. l.. Wilson,
chairman, and T. A. Abbott, secretary,
first reviewed the arrangements made
bv the Athletic club for the fight, and