The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-16
NO CHANGE OF POLICY
SOLON l.. GOODE EFT AL. MAKE DIS
COvERIES OF LAWS VIOLATIONS.
tendent Powell Talk in an Interest,"
ing Way About Them.

A committee from the Good Citizens
League visited the Indianapolis saloons
Sunday, and as a result of the tour they
report success in getting drinks at a num-
Der Of saloons. The committee was ap-
pointed by the Good Citizens League, and
consisted of Scion L. Goode and Halstead L.
Ritter. Last week Mr.. Goode, who is pres
ident of the league. was told that the Sum
day liquor traffic in this city had reached
discreditable proportions. His informant at
the same time rendered his services TO any
mmi that might desire to investigate
the matter. Sunday morning Mr.. Goode. Mr..
Ritter and the informant set out for a
tour OF the city saloons. The greater part
of the day was devoted to the investigation
of doubtful places, and at the conclusion OF
the trip the committee announced itself as
satisfied that there were many violations
OF the law. The fact was demonstrated, it
appears, that there are several saloon keep
ers in indianapolis who do violate the laws
each Sunday, and the members of the COM
mittee say that they found little difficulty
in securing favors, but in a roundabout
way. Tn drinks were served, they say,
in most cases with caution. Police Com
missioner Conner was seen yesterday and
asked If he had read the report in an after
noon paper regarding the Sunday violations.
He said:
Yes. 1 read the statement in the News
to-day in regard to the visit of one of its
reporters with Mr.. Goode and MIR. Ritter.
of the Good Citizens committee, TO the ten
saloons in the central district, wherein they
bong 1t liquor in nine of them. i have since
examined the Sunday reports of the pa
trolmen in the districts where these sa-
looms are located, covering the periods of
these visits. You understand that the su-
per- ltendent requires written reports from
every patrolma1, covering this question.
You can see them on file at the superin-
tendent's office. If patrolmen are making
false reports they will be dismissed sum-
marty, and truthful men. who will observe
their oaths and duty, put in their places.
Their reports are to the effect that, while
some saloons were unlocked and could be
entered. they could detect no violations of
the law. OF course, under such clrcum-
stances. l suppose that persons not sus-
pected Of attempting to detect violations
might enter and buy liquor. but sales would
not be made to honest policemen, nor in
their presence. The law permits anybody
to keep his door unlocked. and patrolmen
Sunday to detect sales, while in citizens
dress. but, as they are generally known,
found none in the districts mentioned by the
Yes. 1 can say, and do say, that since
the report that there was to be a Stacking
or restraint against the saloon violators of
law. that the superintendent told the force
they must be more vigilant. The day force
Is twenty-six men, and there are over four
hundred saloons, but If nine out of ten Sa-
looms are violating the law in selling / am
in favor of putting enough men on the force
TO station one In each saloon till the vio-
lations are broken up utterly"
what will be done with the matter?'
LAS the prosecution of crime is more i'm
portant than detection l suppose. of course.
fhat Mr.; G13de and Mr.; litter Win at once
certainly the part of good citizenship to do
so; If thew fail in their duty tomorrow in
inns regard some otner gooo eltlzen VIII
to have violations of the law so paraded,
and then cowardly run away from the
mint and anise anc neglecting the weightier
matters of the law, and there shall not be
as long as there is any good citizenship"
superintendent Powell was also inter-
eff, as reported, there are violations of
the Sunday law. they are not due TO any
sd dminfst Ga RShey with tn TIVE t@eh PsFt Sf m Iae et on
duty in the da~ytime-men whose fidelity /
have had hitherto no ground to question
there is a manifest handicap in preventing
absolutely all liquor selling on Sunday. 1
have never had an intimation from Mayor
Denny nor any one else that the laws We're
not to be enforced as 1 found them on the
books, and / would have resigned rather
than tolerate violations of law. There can
be nothing but good politics in enforcement
of law. But we are not permitted on the
ground of good morals or eXpediency 20
use our officers to trap saloon keepers. The
court has set the example in this regard.
No one can say that we have failed
to use all the evidence that has come to
us in a legitimate way, and we will con-
tinue to do so. If the patrolmen who run
on these beats are are b~lameworthy, they
will be called to account. But it must be
remembered that saloon men make 1t their
business to know and recognize policemen
In or out Of uniform in order to escape ar
rest. In the eleven months of the present
administration, the force has become we'll
known to them. and it Is increasingly diff
cult to make arrests. But we will live up
TO our citizen may rest
assured of that. A number of the saloons
reported as visited are restaurants, hotels
or boarding houses as we'll, and It is not
In our power to close them under any con-
s!deration. While many saloon keepers OBJ
serve the law and give the police a clear
view of their premises, there is no law
that requires removal of screens. All these
things ought to be taken into consideration
ward effort to enforce the law"