The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-05

letter with some sharp criticisms on the my
policy plan. He said:
1.-THE author of the policy has travelled
so much and spoken of It so often that it is
the Minneapolis policy" The audience found
this very amusing and applauded vigorously.
Continuing, the speaker waxed sarcastic, and
said
1.-The policy idea is bad, even if the au-
thor is infallible, for he must die some day,
and then the people will be without his wis
dom to guide them and will have to fab
back on the laws. Instead Of q policy, the
plain letter and intent of the law should be
enforced. The letters l have read will
show you that he has no reason to extract
comfort from the situation there"
The speaker reviewed at some length the
history of the famous Raines law in New
York, and urged the careful enforcement
of all municipal law in Minneapolis.
Judge j. 0. Pierce, Rev. Harry p Nichols,
Henry j. Fletcher and others spoke of the
necessity for enforcement Of municipal law,
and urged that no discretion in administering
1t be left to the mayor.
A statement was read in which the names
and number Of saloons violating various
provisions of the law were given. 1t was
claimed that very little satisfaction could
be obtained from Mayor Pratt about these
things, and that he had not answered a let
ter addressed to him after the last meeting
asking him to be more strict The license COM
mittee of the council was commended for its
care in issuing licenses, and seeing that good
and substantial bonds were given.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
The following resolutions were adopted:
Whereas, at a meeting Of 900 citizens OF
Minneapolis, held Sunday afternoon, Feb.
IA, 1897, to consider matters of great i'm
portance to the welfare of city, certain
resolutions, reciting serious public griev-
ances, were unanimously adopted, and
Whereas, such resolutions were by order
of the meeting forwarded to Hon. Robert
Pratt, mayor Of the city, with request that
he state to the chairman Of the meeting in
writing his knowledge and intention rel
ative to the matters complained of; and
Whereas, after a lapse Of more than six
weeks, no such reply has been received, nor
has any acknowledgment whatever of the
said resolutions been vouchsafed therefore,
Resolved, That this meeting express Its
profound establishment and concern that the
mayor of Minneapolis should so far forget
his position as a public servant as to treat
with apparent contempt the respectful re-
quest of a large and representative body of
citizens; and further
Resolved That this meeting, assuming in
the absence of any authoritative statement
from the mayor that his attitude toward the
matters complained of is such is indi-
Gated by the facts, and reported in the pub
lie press and voicing, as 1t believes, the
sentiment Of a large majority of the peo-
pie of Minneapolis, demands Of the mayor
nances, which 1t is his sworn duty to en-
force, he shall cease to nullify the express
ed will Of the people by the exercise of an
assumed discretion which Is without warrant
OF law or justification in sound policy, and
that he shall henceforth execute to the best OF
his ability all laws and ordinances accord
Ing to their plain spirit and purpose.