The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-01

THE PERSECUTION CONTINUES.

The persecution by the city author
tiles Of people who are depraved enough
to ride bicycles goes merrily on. Where
you get a fool ordinance and fool
policeman in conjunction. there is
scarcely anything that may not hap
pen. We had good illustration Satllr-
day night of the possibilities and prob
abilities of an ordinance requiring the
carrying Of a lighted lantern on the
roadway A police officer, in the mere
discharge of his duty according to the
letter Of the law, kept the patrol wagon
busy and loaded the floor of the CEN
tral station with Wheels until his SUI
periors hastily sent him word to de-
ignominy of arrest, with a single ex-
ception, had complied with the ordi-
nance, absurd and improper as it is,
and were carrying lanterns on their
wheels. The high wind prevailing made
it impossible to keep these alight, but
the excuse did not avail them, either
with the officer or with the central au-
thorities. These gentlemen, including
two visitors from Minneapolis, were
obliged to put up the cash for their
bail or to leave their wheels at the sta
ton until Monday morning. This is
the pleasant experience that may meet
the rider of the wheel on any day when
he ventures out after sunset
The bicycle lantern, from the nature
Of the case, is not always dependable.
1t carries but a small amount of oil,
alig;ht with difficulty when breeze is
blowing. The man or woman who has
taken ride out in the country, fully
equipped for meeting the fool ordi-
nance, is always liable to find the Ian
tern fail on the return trip. Then the
rider must either walk home trundling
his wheel by hand, Or he must take the
chance or the certainty of being car
ried through the streets, like the most
depraved criminal, in the patrol wagon
under the curious gaze and subject to
the jeers of all the idlers and ruffians
In the street. Even if the officer who
chances to be on duty should not be
fool policeman, how is he to know when
to enforce the ordinance and when not?
He has no legal right to accept an ex-
cuse, and we are obliged to say that
the city authorities do not wish him
to.
The purpose Of this ordinance is to
make it unpleasant and dangerous for
the wheelmen Of this city, and that
purpose is being amply realized. The
spirit of it is well exhibited by the re-
mark of a gentleman who, a short time
ago, discussing the question Of carry
ing lanterns, said that if he saw a
man riding a wheel at night without
light he would, if possible, run into
him and smash his machine and in
jure him if he could. That is the exact
idea Of the ordinance and the city au
thorities and the people who sympa-
thize with them. They do not want
to protect the public, but to have peo
pie do what they tell them to do, or
s, be smashed. 1t is not a question of
public protection, but of petty tyranny.
The same spirit crops out in the ri
diculous action Of the park commission
ers and the more ridiculous explana
tions offered of it. The park policemen
are enjoined to forbid any person who
may ride the wheel to Como park from
disnounting and taking the wheel by
hand to a place where it will be safe
while he enjoys the beauties of the
park A bicycle must be left standing
or lying in the roadway, which, of
course, prohibits the riders of wheels
from using any portion of the park ex-
cept the public drives. AS individuals,
we have assurance that the park com
missioners see the absurdity and the
injustice of this thing. AS a body.
they follow the traditional policy of the
city. The young woman who has
holiday and wants to spend it quietly
and economically by riding out to
Como and taking a lunch or reading
a book under the trees cannot do so.
not because it would interfere with
anybody else. but because wheelmen