The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-09
MINISTERIAL MASS MEETING.
They Met in the Y. VI. c. A. Auditorium. r
ports Ofthe Investigating Committees.

The meeting held in the Y. NJ G. A
building last evening was quite well at
tended. On account of misunderstood
| ing many did not attend as it was under
stood that the meeting be held in the First
Presbyterian church, but when the people
arrived there they found the doors closed
1t was announced that that edifice could
no longer be at the service Of these meet
| ings unless compensation be paid So
| after some parley and considerable argu
ment the hall in the Y NJ A building was
secured at a cost of s. for each evening.
After quite large number had assembled
the meeting was opened by DR.. Rhames,
who presided over the meeting during the
evening After the usual opening exer-
| cises, the chairman stated that the reports
| of the committees were in order
Rev. Love, who was on the committee
appointed to secure place Of meeting,
reported the facts already stated in regard
to the place of holding the meeting and
the report was adopted.
! Rev. Bicknell, of the committee on
printing, submitted report. A wrangle
ensued which took up a great deal of the
evening and it was finally agreed to defer
the adoption Of the committee report until
later when more could be ascertained in
the matter.
Upon motion collection was taken up
to defray expenses which was done and
| amounted to $lO36 Upon the announce
ment of the amount the congregation
cheered.
Next in order was the report of
the investigating committee which
consisted of Rev. Marsh \. Bird, Rev.
Monroe and Mr. Montague These gen
tlemen interviewed the police commission
! ers, the county attorney, sheriff, consta-
bles, the police judge and chief of police
upon the government of the city and in
what manner the laws were enforced, etc.
Mr. Montague read the report. He stated
briefly the events which lead up to the in
terview. Mr.. Montague at this time was
the spokesman Of the party and did the
talking. Everything was taken down by
a stenographer as is given below They
were received very courteously and the
following interview ensued:
Mr.. Montague-Well, sir. we would like
to know if it meets with the pleasure of
the commissioners, the present mode of
enforcing the laws Of the state and of the
city?
Rev. Marsh-Now if l might be allowed
to suggest
Mr.. Jones-Just one talk at a time
Mr.. Shearman-Is this your only in
quiry2
Mr.. Montague-We probably may not
have any other to ask if that is answered;
If MAJ he oil tbof IL
Mr.. Jones-You are welcome to examine
the records both in the police court and
here, and the records are the only thing
we can refer to.
Mr.. Shearman-With regard to this in
quiry of the chairman of the committee, I
have to say that if we are to conclude
from the fact that it stands alone, that it
is the only inquiry this committee desires
TO make of this board we are ready to
answer it, but when we have answered it
we shall consider this interview at an end,
as we have a right to conclude that it is
the only point upon which you desire
information. On the other hand, if there
are other inquiries we have to request
that you make them at this time, in order
that we may answer on all these points as
a whole.
Mr.. Montague-For the present we will
withdraw the question asked, and l will
read the resolutions. They then read the
resolutions previously published which
were adopted at the last meeting.
Mr.. Sherman-As we understand from
your statement, your committee has three
duties to perform: First, to present these
resolutions to this board; second, to receive
any answer we desire to make to them;
third, TO request the enforcement of the
laws. So far as your first duty is con-
cerned, you have presented the resolutions
and we have received them. Our answer
to them is that they are based upon mis-
conception of the facts. We explicitly
deny that the allegations of the resolutions
are true so far as they apply to the work
of this board. IL is recited that certain
things appear and upon these appearances,
as alleged, these resolutions proceed to
condemn certain officers. We submit
that it is not proper to condemn in this
manner even if appearances warranted it,
which we deny. With reference to the
third point, we concede the
right of all right minded citizens to urge
upon all officers the exercise of diligence
in the discharge of their duties. We
therefore receive your request for diligence
upon our part, aud assure you that it will
be exercised in the future as it has been
exercised in the past. 1t may not be out
of place in this connection for us to sug-
gest that the passage of the so-called
metropolitan police law by the legislature
of this state has not in any manner or de-
gree changed the method of criminal pro-
cedure. The fact remains as it has ever
been, that it is the duty OF all citizens, if
they know of the violation of any law, to
announce the facts within their knowl
edge to the prosecuting officers and to
submit to them the evidence upon which
they depend to establish the facts in a
court of Justice. If it is within the
knowledge of any member of this com
mittee, or of any member of the body
which they represent, that any law of this
city or of this state has been violated
within the period OF the statute of limita-
ton, it is the duty of that one to lay
such facts before the proper prosecuting |
officer and to require that such steps as |
are warranted by criminal procedure be |
taken in the proper court to bring the /
guilty party TO Justice There ought to be |
10 Sinking or shrinking from this re- /
sponsibiGty. 1t rests alike upon every |
,itizen. whether an officer or not. This ! |
believe TO be full, complete and frank |
answer TO the resolutions, ami since from |
he statement Of the chairman of your |
committee, it is the only thing required of |
Is To be answered, this interview may /
therefore, end. We may add. however, if /