Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-11
DR.. LOCKWOOD AND THE CITY
ADMINISTRATION.

1 is said the police department is a
little "wsrm in the collar" ut the de.
nuncistlon Of municipal crims pre-.
sen,ed by Dr.. Lockwood OF the NJ. IL.
church In his Sunday discourse. The
officers say that the clergyman's state
ments are ga pack OF lies;'' that he has
not been in the city long euou yh to
find out it's condition, having been
here only short time; and that his
assumed exposure OF such n state OF
affairs shows disposition to revei In
that which Clergyman should not
allow his mind to dwell upon.
As to the utterances OF DIR. Lock.
wood, here are some OF the stntemen ta
to which serious and angry objections
are raised:
II il impossible for us to shut our eyes
to the fact that vice and crime arc in the
ascendant In this city. Corruption is mt
tho very heart of our social aud civic
life. beginning al the TOP. the Christian
conscience IL dun and npathetlc; passing
grade lower, II is evident that, in tho
purely worldly circles OF society, If there
il any moral standard at all, ii in q very
low and loose one; while in tho lower re-
giOhs-in tho realm whore the city gov
eminent clasps hands in good fellowship
with its criminals and divides blood
money with y prostitu es--lust and dis
honor hold high carnival. It is not to
our credit that upon tho Sabbath day
many OF the wealthy aud prominent
men of the city habitually resort to
saloons that are supposed, In accordance
with the city ordinance, to be closed fast
on tho first day OF the week. 1t is
not to our credit that ON Christmas
day key OF beer, the gift ot one OF tho
leading liquor dealers ia the city, was
ON tap at police headquarters. 1t is not
TO our credit that the retiring sheriff of
THIS county should, upon leaving his
Office, have treated each one of the pris-
onors under his charge to liberal sup
ply OF punch, Boosting at the same time
OF the good fellowship existing between
himself and his prisoners. IL i.not to
our credit that when humane and Chris
tan women, bent upon the work of res
cue, have visited our city jail (no.with-
standing tho TACT that the city pays for
the services Of female attendant) they
have invariably found female criminals
in the custody of men, and have fire.
quently witnessed scenes so improper and
nagtant that they would disgrace viii
lage in the heart OF Africa.
IL il even more serious, perhaps, though
not moro vicious and shameless that tho
city ordinances pertaining to the sup
preston OF vico are nearly all broken
with impnnity and with the tull knowl-
edge OF he officers OF the law. IL il
illegal for any boy or girl under IL years
OF age to visit, frequent or remain in
any place where intoxicating liquors arc
sold; and vet in IA single saloon, few
congregated, drinking and playing pool:
and thereis scarcely a well-known saloon
in the city that Is not regularly frequent
ed by boys under Is. 1t Is contrary to
an ordinance OF the city Tor saloon to
sell or give away liquor between the
honrs OF IL O'clock Saturday night and
u O'Clock Sunday night; yet the city
officers themselves admit that this law
Is habitually viola cd. IL is illegal Tor
any person 10 keep or visit an opium
den; and yet no observant citizen Will
deny that this law likewise is constantly
being violated and that white boys, and
girls even, are being lured to their utter
ruin in these odlous dons. There is
direct and explicit ordinance forbidding
EVIL women to engage in their traffic
within the limits OF this city; and vet,
both the city attorney and the chief OF
polico told mo that, much to their regret,
there was no effort made, whatever, to
enforce this law but that II was the
policy of the city simply 10 divide with
these women their revenue, this division
OF spoils taking place about once
month. Finally, it is well
known by every citizen who has taken
any pains to investigate the matter or
who has not closed his eyes and ears to
tho whole situation, that gambling is
Illegal, and yet the fact is that this vice il
openly pracliced in tho city, nearly all
the saloons having gambling facilities.
II DR.. Il ckwool's remarks do not
accurately describe the police admiuis-
traIlon Of city ordinances with respeo.
to the crimes named and from which
the better element OF citizens keep
aloof, the mere denials OF the police, or
administrations against the reverend
gentleman because he has handled the
subject, will not be sufficient to clear
the skirts Of the police department, In
the minds OF the public, especially in
view Of the clergymsn'a preliminary
statement:
Do not imagine. either, that come be-
fOro you this morning 10 fro ut random
or 10 explode blank cartridges. | como
fortified with facts, and every charge
that make | stand ready to defend, il
necessary, in court OF Justice, with
competent witnesses at my disposal
That is challenge the police can.
not get around NY any tongue, lash
ing they can give the doctor. Toindulpe
In that ami to stop there is to confess
that his charges are true. II he is to
receive any attention at all from the
police department, it must be on the
bnsis Of his challenge. He says he ia
ready to prove his charges In a court
OF justice. Arc the police able
to establish in that field that he
states what Ia not true? II SO, then
swearing at him will not help the mat
ter; and If not able, 1t will make their
case worse.