The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-03
TICKET OF THEIR OWN.
Christian Citizens May Break Their
Party Ties.


Party Ties.
Rev. Watson B. Willard, one of the
speakers at the Christian Citizenship
league meeting last evening, gave ut
terance to one or two sentences which
would indicate that there Is chance
for what Is known as citizens ticket
at the next municipal election. The
reverend gentleman, who is also presi-
dent Of the league, in the course Of his
remarks said the league was founded
on the principles that the laws should
be enforced, the right men elected to
office, and that in municipal affairs
national politics should be excluded.
These. he said, were what the league
stood for, and in order to fight those
in favor of the enforcement of the laws
must stand together. There had been
some criticism owing to the name of the
organization, but this amounted to
nothing, and was started by those who
did not favor the work of the league.
Speaking Of this action, he said he
would be ashamed of any business man
who would attempt to put the brakes
on any effort which had for its object
the welfare of the city and the young
men who made up the city.
The meeting, the third Of a series
under the auspices of the Christian
Park Congregational church, and there
were but few vacant chairs when Rev.
E. p. Ingersoll, pastor Of the church.
introduced as the first speaker Rev.
David Morgan, who announced that in
his opinion it was the duty of Christian
citizens to destroy the works Of the
devil and enforce the laws. He had
been told by certain city official that
the league was carrying things to the
%1r&4
looms was a source of great revenue to
the city which had to have money. III
answer to this the speaker said that
from $4,000 to $50, 900 was lost annually
to the city by the laws not being en-
forced in the matter Of the transfer of
liquor licenses. He cited instances
where saloons were operated at Camp
Mason and on University avenue dur
ing the G. A. R. by simple payment
and the filing of alleged transfer ap-
plication. Under the law transfers of
saloon licenses were not allowed, and
If the law in this regard was enforced
the city would be the richer.
Rev. j. F. Stout, of the First Meth
odist church, said 1T was necessary that
the laws be everlastingly enforced 1t
was a mockery for Christian citizens
to elect any man to office who would
and that one would not. The citizens
had right to exact obedience from
the officials. The law-abiding citizens
represented a majority, and the minor
ity had no right to trample on the ma
jority and say the laws should not be
enforced.
Rev. M. D. Edwards, of the Dayton
Avenue Presbyterian church, said the
greatest evil was the disregard or dis
respect Of laws divine or human. City
officials who did not enforce the laws
were not faithful to their oaths. Only
by an enforcement Of the laws could
the violators be made to respect them
The speaker referred to the policy aud
administration Of ex- Mayor OBrien as
evidence that the laws could be en-
forced if the officials desired.
Rev. Father Gmeiner quoted stats
tics to show: that the saloon, from a
financial. point of view.swas not bene-
fit to the city. The saloons. he claimed.
had more, rights than they were en-
titled to. Business houses closed at
o'clock at night and all day Sunday.
but the saloons were not satisfied with
midnight closing, and ran all day Sun
day full blast. There were laws against
this, but they were not enforced.