The herald., 1896-12-22


l was even then charged with question
/ ing the veracity of ministerial brethren.
! While did not call in question the word
of any brother. I insisted that 1t was
due the chief Of police that a committee
should be appointed to get his reply to
tions as to who was responsible for the
vfolators OF law and the fail
ure to bring to Justice the
known violators, and thus help check
the fearful tide of 5iniquity so glaringly
ard terribly destructive to our youth.
The committee was appointed, of which
l was member. The chief refused to
answer any questions or hold amy con-
ference with us because of the presence
of three persons whom he dfsliked and
said would not do him Justice. He
agreed to confer with any committee
composed of ministers other than
those he named, and included one who
was not present. The Ministerial union
refused to appoint another committee,
and l therefore refused to vote for the
resolutions condemning Chief Glass.
At the first meeting of the Parkhurst
league I insisted upon the appointment
of a committee to which Chief Glass
could not object, and refused to take
any part in the work until such COM
mittee was appointed. was made
chairman for this reason, namely: Chief
Glass had said In the hearipg of the
other committee that he looked upon
me as just man, who would not con-
denim anyone without positive proof.
When we called upon the chief he re-
fused to answer any questions. but sug-
gested that we get evidence of the viola
tion of the law relative to the unlawful
sale of liquors and immoral practices
and crime. 1 asked him what consti
tuted evidence, and he told us that it
must be positive knowledge. He then
outlined what must be done, which
course We have since followed. and for
which we are all now being condemned
by those who do not and cannot suggest
any other effective methods.
A letter written me by the editor of
one of our great dailies took me to his
office. He and both expressed our
selves as friendly to the chief, and
talked about the objects of the Park
hurst society. He said he was as anX-
ious as anyone to see the laws against
crime and immortality enforced, ard told
me that everyone believed that I was
both just and fearless. and said that If
I would act as the leader of a judicious
crusade committee, and go to all places
where we believed the laws were being
violated and produced the testimony
in court. he and his paper would sus-
tain me. no matter whom it incrim-
mated. I was urged to accept the chair
crime and immortality.
Believing that I would be sustained by
the press and all moral and Christian
people. and particularly the ministry /
finally accepted and was ordered by the
league to procure evidence that would
convict in the courts. called to my as
sistance an advisory committee and we
talked over the methods that we would
be obliged to employ to secure convic-
tions. Everycne of us hesitated because
we personally disliked such work !
consulted lawyers and found that we
must do what Chief Glass said. viz. en-
ter these saloons and dens OF iniquity
and witness what was done there. and
where liquor was sold buy and taste it.
or our testimony would go for naught
in the courts. 1 tried to get others than
ministers to undertake the work, but
business men said they could not go
without seriously affecting their busi-
ness; doctors said they were too we'll
known, as their profession called them
to such places; lawyers said they could
not go, as they might be called upon to
prosecute. or defend the parties. I then
consulted some business and profession
al men, both in and out of my church.
and was told that none but the ministers
could undertake such a crusade. When
our advisory committee found that we
must either abandon the work or under
take it ourselves with the little funds
we had at hand) We each one volunteer
ed. even though it was distasteful to
all. We called to our assistance de-
tectives from the outside, as those of
the police force said they were too we'll
known to attempt to secure evidence.
AS the chief of police was not disposed to
help us. though he had at first offered to
Go so. we could not expect any sympa thy
from him or aid from his force. The SIM
pie fact of his refusal to make me an Of
ficer of the law. without pay. is certain
ly enough to convince the community
that he was afraid that I had procured
too much evidence and he certainly fear
ed what I could do under commission
from him, from the police commission
or the sheriff.
enough to convince any fair-min6ed
person that we were justified in the
means employed when no other meth
DDS could convict under our present ex-
listing laws and ordinances, which are
framed to protect the criminal and not
the community against crime and i'm
morality.
Those who have been in the court and
witnessed the trials Gncluding the abuse
from the lawyers for the defendants and
the lies that they uttered and false i'm
pressions they made upon the reporters
and through them upon the public are
aware that great injustice has been done
US. Until all of the evidence is before
the courts, when we believe you will
commend us for the work we have done,
we simply ask the reading public to be-
lieve in our honesty of purpose purity of
motives, and sincere desire for the sup
preston of crime and immortality and
supremacy of the law.