The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1897-07-03
A FEW REFLECTIONS ON
THE BLIND TIGER.
winch Force the Conclusion
That the Sentiment of the
People
Is Still Firm Against the Return of
the Open Saloon.

II there is one thing more settled
: than another, that one thing is that
the sentiment of the people of nine
tenths of the counties OF the state must
change before they will vote the open
saloon back into business. This has
been shown in many instances through
out the state. and the sentiment against
the open saloon seems to be growing.
There is also sentiment which is fast
crystallizing to organize law and order
leagues to run out the blind tiger
There is only one way to enforce the
law. and that is to support it with a
healthy public sentiment. Whenever
the people in any community come to-
gether with practical unanimity and
agree that this striped beast of iniquity
shall De ran out, he will 60, and stand
not on the order OF his going, but skulk
speedily to his hiding. Communities,
like public officers, are no better and
no worse than the people want them.
If the people OF any town in the state
gettogether, say that gambling, illegal
sale OF whiskey, or any other unlawful
practice shall cease, it will cease. 1t
will not do to say that the courts and
juries will not do their duty. How
can the courts do their duty when the
best citizenship Of the state shirk jury
duty? How can grand ,uries find in.
dietments when the best men in the
community are Indifferent as to their
finding, even if they do not scheme to
keep from going before the grand jury?
How can good men expect good
verdicts when good men avoid jury
duty. and the court officers are COM
PEELED to summon bystanders to fill the
panel, having for his material profess
sional jurymen, perhaps sent there in
some instances by the law-breaker, the
blind tiger, if your please, to get on
the jury? The laws are all right. As
a rule, the courts are all right. In al
most every case the court officials are
fearless and dutiful. But there is an
apathy and Indifference among the peo-
pie that bodies evil in the matter of
furnishing law.breakers. The way to
enforce the law is to give aid and com
fors to the courts, the grand juries, the
district attorneys, and see that good
men and not professional iurymen get
On the juries.
Eut speaking of the blind tiger sug-
yests that he has become aboastful fac.
or. He claims to have helped defeat
he petition OF the whisky election IN
Kinds county, the motive being that
1e does not desire competition. 1t
S said that he holds the balance of
bower in Meridian, and is able to de-
eat any petition for saloons in that
own by joining his signature with
hose who oppose the saloons on high
moral ground, and not for revenue
'nly, as does the blind tiger who wants
10 opposition, it being well known that
licensed saloons keep close watch OF
he blind tiger and that he cannot
hrive under their espionage. Lauder
[ale county, it will be remembered, is
low cry by local option.
There is another element which is
aid to figure in local option elections
nd in petitions asking the boards
# supervisors to order the holding
+ such elections. These are saloons
n other counties which reap a revenue
rom the jug trade they get in the dry
ounties, which would be cut off by the
pening OF the saloons. They know
hat men will not send off for a Jug OF
'hisky when they can get it in their
wn towns by the jug, bottle or drink. 1t
'ould seem, therefore, that whisky
endors, whether legitimate, orillegitl-
late, clash as.their several interests
re affected.
1t is common rumor that in some
laces in Mississippi 'blind.tigers -four
n with such richness that they are
nabled to set lunches such as were
ever seen in the heyday OF the open
aloon. II they escape license which
he open saloon has to pay, and then es'
ape conviction and fine for violating
he law, they can we'll afford to set
heir customers a good lunch. But in
wing them as above indicated, it
ould be we'll to get good men on the
Try. It would, prehaps, be unsafe
20 to trial with a juryman who had
some Of the meat in the
md wich between his molars as he
ashed down the tempting morsel
ith something on the side. He might
ang the jury. And that would be uu'
ind to the other eleven good and law
Il mep.--Jackson, Miss, Bureau Cor
sspondenco New Orleans Picayune.