The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-01-21
j, CITIZENS ARE AROUSED.
M4SS MEETI NE3 0Es CITIZENS HELD
 IN BRIDG EPOBT YESTERDAR.

IN BRIDGEPOhT YESTERDAY.
 Address of Secretary Thrasher, of State
 Law and Order League-The Great Need
 of Radical Changes-The First Law and
 Order League Cases Come Up for Trial
 This Morning in Bridgeport.
 Bridgeport, Jan. Reinstatement is
 rife in this city over the Law and Order
 league prosecutions. This afternoon a
 big citizens meeting was held under the
 auspices of the Bridgeport Law and
 Order league at the South Congrega-
 composed largely of men. many of the | leading business and professional men
 being present. sThe big church was filled
 to it's utmost capacity Rev. MT. Cur
 tis of the Methodist church opened the
 meeting with prayer. Secretary s. P.
 Tharsher of the State Law and Order
 league of New Haven then made most
 forcible and telling address, which is
 given below
 Rev. H. A. Davenport then made | short address on the need of reform in l Bridgeport Drs. Lauder and Wordin also made short addresses. Curtis
 Thompson then made a most excellent speech in which he spoke of the serious lack of effectiveness in the present sys- tenn of prosecution and detecting crime in our city. He thinks that mu- nicipal governments are not equal to coping with present conditions. He ad- vocated radical measures.
 The first Law and Order league cases come up for trial in the city court here tomorrow morning.
 MT. Thrasher's address follows: ADDRESS BY MIR. THRAsHER
 In popular government the laws are it's safeguard, and in proportion as the laws become imperative the strength of the government becomes impaired. Hence, l believe the greatest danger that threatens us as a people is law lessness.
 That our laws are not enforced no one at all familiar with the facts can deny. The law is the expressed will of the people, and that will is disre- garded, defied and trampled under foot
 In the city of Bridgeport, as in other cities, the law prohibits the sale of in- toxicating liquors on Sunday, and this law is not a relic of barbarism, but of recent enactment, and is endorsed by large majority of your citizens, and yet many of the liquor dealers violate it with impunity. The law is very strict concerning gambling, but you have men here who set their facts like flint" against the law defy the authorities. snap their fingers in the face of de- cent people, go on robbing the poor and growing rich off their ill-gotten gains.
 The law prohibits houses of ill-fame, but those looking for such places are not obliged to go to New Haven or New York to find them.
 I would rather see the Sunday law stripped from the statute books and every saloon in Bridgeport wide open on the Lords day than see the law re- main and so shamefully set at naught, for, as I have said many times, and again repeat, illegal dram shops, gamb- ling dens and brothels constitute so many school for teaching disregard for law. The dangers of our municipalities, the state and nation, from these lawless institutions must be apparent to all | Now, why are the laws so openly vio- lated?
 In the heat of our pursuit oe law breakers we should not forget that there l is a large class of men in this city who l have but one idle day in the week. | They are confined in your factories, on the railroads and in vorious oceupa- tions; many of them without a home, | save a small bed room at a cheap board | ing house, the furnishing of which may | be only a bed, table and chair These | men need some social life. Where are they to find it in the city of Bridgeport, especially on Sunday?
 Saloon keepers, who are in the business because there is money in 1t, are quick to take advantage of these conditions and supply demand. It should be re- also that the illegal liquor dealers and law breakers generally are well organized ready to exercise their united strength to protect themselves in their illegal money getting. But" says someone eff the officers would do their duty we need not have such law-breaking." Theoretically that po- sition is right, but 1t is impracticable am not so ready to criticise the off, cials since I have come to know more of the difficulties they encounter.
 Now, without eXcusing any man who has used his official position corruptly, or who has been at all negligent of his duty it is my firm belief that if all the officials in this city were up to the high est ideal of official competency the laws 3ould not be enforced by them. Does that take your breath away? Wait a minute. Is it not true that every po- iceman in Bridgeport, whether in uni for or civilians dress, is known to every persistent law breaker in the ,ity? I will venture the statement that on any Sunday before the Law and Order league began it's crusade here .here were more men under pay to pro- ect the law breakers than the city had .o protect her welfare.
 Nearly every saloon doing Sunday business has it's spotters continually on guard, and If policeman were to ap- oroach place the door would be closed md everything quiet. Do not misun- lerstand me: I ann speaking of the gen