The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-30
INTERCHANGEABLE ZEAL

sUPERSFRyICEABIE ZEAL
The Times. some time ago. called at
tention TO the corrupting effect upon the
administration OF law Of the practice or
allowing law officers TO grant permission
70 some bar-keepers to ply their trade on
Sunday. and OF forbidding 1t to others
the reasons for this partially not ap-
nearing either on the face OF the law OF
in any way. except from inference ana
hearsay. The Times also called attention
TO the corrupting influence OF weii-KhoNn
gambling establishments and DINERS not
so well known. but easily discoVerapie'
being operated, presumably. with the tol-
Grafton. II not direct appreciation, OF
those whose sworn duty IL was to sup
press them as evils not merely forbidden
by statute. but recognized as evils by al!
citizens. including even candid gamblers
themselves.
The Times thought that the effect or
the violation Of these laws by the con-
nivance of the defenders OF the law was
a spectacle well calculated TO degrade the
majesty of all law and TO destroy the
integrity of the officers Of the law. Inc
Times did not undertake Puritanical
crusade TO have a Pharasaic Sabbath law
enforced: 1t only pointed out evils the
effects Of which. unless checked, would
be to take away all respect for law ana
all confidence in those whose duty ii Is 10
see that law is enforced for the protection
Of the lives and property Of our citizens.
The Police Commissioners of Richmond,
In filing the vacancy created by the death
Of the late Chief of Police. elected man
of experience. of integrity. and Of honest
purpose, TO maintain the peace and dig
nifty Of the Commonwealth. He notified
those who had violated the Sunday liquor
law that the law would be impartially en-
forced; that there should be no favorites.
and no side or back doors.
He did not formally notify the gamblers
that they must stop. but they very soon
found out that they had a man TO deal
with who would not wink at their bust
ness. and they. too. shut up shop.
So far, so good. Now, no other sources
of danger 10 the peace and happiness Of
our citizens. or to the dignity Of our law
and the integrity OF its officers appeared,
and it was reasonable to suppose that,
with these evils removed, the current of
our everyday life. as heretofore enjoyed
on weekday and Sunday. would flow
along without let or hindrance
But not So
Somebody's profits or influence. or
power were impaired by the shutting up
favored side doors, and the closing of
the faro-banks and policy-shops, and very
soon il was made plain that the war
would be carried into Africa" if the
selling OF liquor on Sunday and the opera
tons Of the gamblers should be taken out
OF the sound discretion" Of those who
had hitherto regulated those trafiics, and
on Sunday no man should have his boots
BACKED. his trunk delivered. or buy a
newspaper or a glass Of saltwater. or do
many other things OF reasonable pro-
priety even IL Of doubtful absolute ne
cessiiy.
To reduce civilized Americans TO abso-
lutte necessities would be to force upon
them unaccustomed discomforts. not with
in reasonable construction Of the stat
ute not demanded by the interest OF So
ciety but repugnant TO the habits Of our
people.
favored side doors. faro-banks. and policy
shops was only a transparent trick in
tended TO confuse the minds of the sim
pie on the ideas of law, to annoy every
body possible and to make law itself
odious and ridiculous. If there had been
a sincere purpose to uphold the majesty
Of the law for the good OF the people. not
one word Of complaint would be heard
but II must create deep resentment in the
breast of every fair and square man to
see the guardians OF the law become its
traduccrs and betrayers.
The game won't work. however: IL is
thoroughly understood. and all the whin-
ing snivol about the rich mans club and
the poor mans side door cannot answer
the demand Of all sincere men. Of every
creed and all degrees of wealth and nov
erty. that good laws necessary for the
welfare of the community shall be en-
forced. and that the conception fund de-
rived from side and back DOORS and
from gambling dens. great and small
whether bright with electricity. or dark
and smoky, shall be cut Oft
There should be no check in the efforts
OF the Chief OF Police TO report these
law-breakers. and 1t will in due time be
known where the weak places in our legal
machinery really are. If. indeed. there are
any hereafter developed