Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-13
Mcclure Commences the Crusade
Against Sunday Papers.
PREPARED FOR LONG LITIGATION.
The Law and Order Agent Talks Freely
About His Work.
ALDERMEN MUST PAY SUSPENDED FINES

be made just as soon rs the constable could
proceed. Alderman Robe was seen in the
evening and denied that he had issued war.
rants or that he had seen or heard from Nc.
Clure. Ten minutes afterward the latter
reaffirmed the statemnt that warrants had
been issued by Mr.. Robe. When told that
the alderman said nothing had yet been
done, Mr.. Mcclure simply answered: 1.-THE
warrants have been issued"
Notwithstanding the contradictory
statements, it is believed the warrants were
issued and that arrests will be made to-day.
| The victims of the crusade are to be car
riers, news boys, the statesmen at news
stands, and the employees of the Sunday
newspapers who sell papers over the coun-
ter. Only 20 or 80 of the 100 informations
on file in Alderman Rohe's office will be
used at present, but it is promised that the
other persons accused will be proceeded
against later in the week.
Mcclure Not in Love With His Job.
When Agent Mcclure was seen yesterday
he was arranging some recent newspaper
clippings with regard to the Law and Order
League. None of his detectives were present
and he was in a more communicative
frame of mind that he usually is. The move
against the Sunday newspapers, he wanted
it understood, was purely business move
on his part, made at the instance of his en-
ployers. Mr.. Mcclure did not seem to be
in love with the business, and in justice to
him it should be stated that he is a man of
modern ideas, conducting the Citizens De-
tectivc Bureau, with the Law and Order
business as an unfortunate side Issue.
81 have been notified" he stated, s'to
have warrants issued for the arrest of SUM-
day newspaper workers, and have this after
noon prepared list of between % and 80
persons, against whom proceedings are to
be commenced. Alderman Rohe has issued
warrants for their arrest, and thev will be
placed in the hands of the constable to-
dav"
''Whvs will not the entire 100, against
whom inforn,ations have been made be ar
rested" Mr. Mcclure was asked.
f'They will be" he replied, '.just as fast
as the constable can get them"
''Will the proprietors, reporters, press
men or printers be included in the
crusade 2"
81 think not, although, of course, the
society might change its intention. have
received orders to proceed only against per-
sons who sell Sunday papers.
''Why are all the other employees left
out 90
Reporters Do Not Break the Sabbath.
Because they are not an annoyance to
persons who want to observe the Sabbath
day. The printers, reporters and pressmen
do their work inside the newspaper Offices
They do not hinder other people from OBJ
serving Sunday. The newsboys and car
riers take the papers on the street, however.
They stop church-goers to offer a paper.
The boys call out the fact that they are SELL
ing papers and in that way disturb the
peace of the day."
''Then the newsboys are to be brought up
and fined s9j while the proprietors 60
free?'
Unfortunately that is the present plan.
think myself that the proprietors are the
ones who should suffer, but 1 suppose they
will pay the fines of their employees. dis
like to proceed against boys, but men are
seldom found selling papers. The younger
newsboys on the street will not be molested
at present"
at is customary, both you and Alderman
Robe have previously said, to let defend
ants off with payment of costs when they
are brought up for their first offence. Will
of newsboys?"
ono, sir, it will not" was Mr.. McClure's
decisive reply. owe usually suspend fines
when the accused agrees TO stop violating
the Sunday law. but the Sunday papers
show fight, and we will go into battle with
them. The Law and Order Society expects
the cases to be appealed to court, but it is
believed that nothing short of repeal of
the law of 1894 will save them.
Anxious to Test the Blue Laws.
eve are going after the Sunday papers
fully prepared for long litigation, and be-
fore the fight is ended the law will be |
tested to the last link. Suits will not only |
be brought in Allegheny county, but in |
every town where Pittsburg Sunday papers |
are sold. There will be cases in every court |
in Western Pennsylvania We have people |
collecting evidence in all the large towns"
"Where does the Law and Order Society |
get the money to conduct the movement"
''That is not part of my business. The |
American Sabbath Association will take |
hand, L believe, and will act through the |
Law and Order Society committee. 1 have
received my instructions from a commit
tee.''
"Who are the members"
81 am not allowed to state"
tLeggate, Houston and McCrory repre-.
sent both the Law and Order League and
the American Sabbath Association, do they
not?''
'T would be violating confidence to an
swer. 1 am not the Law and Order Society
and cannot speak for it. am simply their
agent and act in the same way as would
any attorney who was paid fee for con-
Quoting Law and Order Society cases. do
other detective business, and if the news
papers have any work in my line they want
done, L am ready for an engagement"
Many are Released on Payment of Costs.
When asked if he did not think between
e, 600 and So, 600 was a very small sum to
represent fines collected in Law and Order
cases, Mr. Mcclure replied:
'Since 1 have taken Captain Wishart's
place, it is customary to let defendants who
appear for the first time and who promise to
obey the law go free with the payment of
costs The course of law in which this is
done is to suspend the fine. The Alderman
TO increase the State revenue by collecting
money from your shopkeepers. ."
"But, of course, you require them to pay
The costs?"
Certainly"
Alderman Rohe was in his usual unhappy
mood when seen in the evening. Although
It was then two hours after the interview
with Mr.. Mcclure, Mr.. Robe alleged he
mad not heard from the Law and Order So
,iety and did not know when warrants
would be issued against Sunday newspaper
employees. He stated that it was then too
ate in the day to attend to such business
81 want to say" he added, THAT will
urn over 1925 to Attorney Frazer in few
lays, that being the amount of fines I have
collected under the law of 1894 -
"Do you claim the right to suspend fines
It your own discretion?" he was asked.