Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-08
NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE.
The Law and Order Society of To-Day
Compared With Former Times-Three
Men Run It-Ex-Members.Sa Its Work
Was Done Long Ago.


Was Done Long Ago.
The threatened move of the Law and Or
der Society against the Sunday newspapers
has once again raised the question of who
compose the society. The organization of
the society was effected when Pittsburg
needed restriction: when gambling dens and
saloons open on Sunday iourished uncurbed
by city authority. Nolunteer ers were needed
to enforce law and order. and when the pub
lie was called upon by MayoriMcCallin the
response was spontaneous.
The work was conducted vigorously.
Saloons were compelled to close-on Sunday.
Gambling houses shut their doors and the
police were placed in position where they
could make PittSburg as orderly as any
city in the country. The work of the vol
unteers, according TO the minds of the ma
iority,waS finished. But few, cltnging to the
narrowed ideas of the last century, refused
to disband. They retained the name of a
society formed at public meeting in May,
1SS7. and since then have made the claim
thai the original Law and Order Society is
in existence.
This statement.is disputed. The names
of the men who in 81 were willing and anx-
ious to be known as being identified with
the movement started by the city's Mayor
would have made long list. A committee
Of . representative citizens was appointed.
They were known TO the public and were
lauded for their work. There were % then
and a host of others who took active inter
est in the society's welfare. There
are seven now, and only seven,
who. according to a statement made
by J. w Houston, are willing to admit
that they are members of the Law and Or
der Society to-day. As given bv Mr.. Hous-
ton they are: Major Negley, President;
/. I. Yoder, Samuel a. Wood, A. Leggate,
Rev. J. 7. McCrory and j. W. Houston.
They Prefer Not to Be known.
And who are the other members,o of the
socie-v?" Mr.. Houston was asked.
They do not care to have their names
published, - he replied.
Are there other members"
'A eS sir -
GLOW is the public to know there are?"
'iIow do we get the money to conduct
the work?" was the evasive reply.
Then you consider everyone who is
contributor a MEMBER
Certainly"
Mr. Houston volunteered as reason for
the general disapproval of Law and Order
work that the public docs not like de-
1ectives.
Detectives are a necessity, however,"
he continued. 1--WE tried to do our work
without them, but failed. l do not approve
of all their methods but there is no way of
Il ln.r ,l.c @ho,,
them.
do you expect 10 proceed against the
Sunday newspapers, street railways and
such things?''
81 decline to discuss what we will do. 1t 4
IS not good policy to give out plans in ad-
vance. -
Major -Negley. although President of the
society, knew little of its workings when
seen Yesterday. 81 attend very few of the
meetings, he said in reply to a question.
''Of course YOU knew that they intend to
proceed against the Sunday newspapers"
NO. sir: l know nothing about it, 1
leave that work 10 other members
''Eow far do YOU think the society should |
proceed in enforcing Sunday observance?'
''Just as far as the law will permit and as |
the Old Testament requires No work |
should be allowed, except that of necessity |
and mercy
Would that extend to the stopping of |
vic lights, the messenger service, street |
d Sunday newspapers
Is for the courts to decide. - |
-ou sanction everything that is done |
Law and Order Society,""
II do.
DO you know what members direct its
work"
'rTne Executive Committee -
Only Three Active Members Now
lie declined to name the members He |
said they held meetings about once a |
month. i reference to the minute book |
proved hat three members-a triumvirate
of Houston, Leggate and McCrory-
are the only persons who in the last /
wear have attended meetings of the
Executive Committee. The society, it |
would seem from this, is composed
Of seven, its directory of three, its execu-
tive force ola detective named Mcclure,
ard three or four assistant detectives Of the
usual class found in private agencies. The
''force" can be seen almost any day except
Sunday in the headquarters in the Excelsior
hui!ding Two Of them are possibly over 81
years Of age. The others are amateurs.
4 visitor never fails to find each study
ing he best methods to suppress crime by
reading the latest and most sensational
dime novel, Formerly Detective Hesser.
now Of the Allegheny Liquor Dealers
Association, was in the employ of the
society. He is considered good detective,
and according to a resolution passed Sep
tember 80, 1889, was paid So a Sunday. In
1890 it was concluded that it was costing too
much to give a man so much money for
work on the Lord Day, so on September ), |
Captain Wishart was authorized to dis
charge Mr. Hesser and to give as a reason
to him that his dismissal was necessary
on account Of the low condition of the
treasury. Captain Wishart, who was the
first agent Of the society, was paid 81 800 a
year. He resigned short time ago and
Detective Mcclure was appointed to sue
ceed him. tie is paid 500 month
The history of the society, as furnished
by Mr.. Houston, dates back to 1885, The
sketch states:
Why the Work Was Started.
One OF the causes of its formation was the
shameless disregard of the Sabbath and the
violation Of the Sunday laws at the Penn
Incline Resort, a saloon kept in the vicinity;
bat the immediate cause was that a roller
coaster was also to be operated on the Sab
bath. and the attractions of the two would
bring crowds of men and women of the baser
sort to the scene. The opening of this and
the Sunday resort led TO the opening of
saloons in the Eleventh ward on the Sab
bath, in contempt and defiance of law and
without any pretense of secrecy or conceal
Incnt.
\ committee of the association called per-
sonally upon the saloon keepers of the ward |
and requested them to desist from Sunday |
selling. In many cases excuses were made: |
IN many others the committee was received |
with personal abuse, and in all cases refusals
to comply with the law were expressed.
Five suits were then entered against Donat |
etehle, the proprietor of the Penn Incline |