The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-09

The Municipal Reform league will
rot name a candidate for mayor this
spring 1t was practically decided at
a meeting of the executive committee
of the league, held at the chamber
of commerce yesterday afternoon, that
DR.. Schiffmann's candidacy should be
indorsed.
The decision was not arrived at With
out some dissension. The radicals In
the league were by no means in favor
of the Endorsement. They wanted to
take up an extremist, but the business
men, who understand that there must
be business sense used in the enforce
ment of the laws in their best interpre-
tation. were in the ma iority in the
meeting, and it was decided that the
league might trust Or. Schiffmann to
combine good judgment with desire
to see all the laws that were practical
BILE enforced.
\ subcommittee of the executive
committee called upon DR.. Schiffmann
yesterday morning and asked him how
he felt about the platform OF the
league. The particular plank upon
which they wanted enlightenment as
TO his views was that which guaran-
tees an enforcement ''of all the laws" y
Deacon W. L. Wilson and E. M. Van
Duzee constituted the committee. MI
Van DuZee asked the doctor about the
particular plank referred to, and want
ed to know specifically about the en-
forcement of the law concerning the
closing of saloons on Sunday.
DR.. Schiffmann told the gentlemen
what he thought about that law frank
". He did not eVade the question or
the issue. He did not believe that the
statute was intended to deprive any
citizen from peacefully indulging in
glass of beer on Sunday; that in st.
Louis, Milwaukee and other towns in
the country the privilege was accorded
to the respectable man who wanted to
sit down and drink his glass of beer
with his friends or his family on Sun
day; that in this city there was very
large element of the population whose
habits of life and methods of recreation
were in accord with this idea, and that
he did not think he would be derelict
in his duty if he refused to deprive this
element of their constitutional and per-
SOnal privileges in this matter. He
thought that laws were made to be en-
forced with reason, and he would not
commit himself to the statement that
he would shut the town up on Sunday.
He did not think that it would be pos
sble to enforce such law, and it
would be enough to exercise care that
the good order of the city is not men
aced. and get away from the disagree
able feature of side door and blind pig
The position of the doctor was gen.
orally satisfactory to the committee.
Mr.. Wilson said that it was fact
that could not be contraVened that the
enforcement of the state law with re-
gard to Sunday closing was impossible.
If the matter were within reach of the
ordinance, and fine could be impos-
ed, it might be possible, but no jury
could be gotten together in St Paul
that would send man to the peniten-
tiary for selling liquor on Sunday. He
said further that he had known Dr.
Schiffmann for thirty years, and knew
that his soundness of judgment and
disposition to do that which was best
for the city's interest was as much TO
q be depended on as that of any mem
Der of the league. .,--
"A half a loaf is better than no
bread" said Mr.. Wilson. after the
meeting of the Municipal leagues COM
mittee Even the radicals were oblig-
ed to confess that, and there are other
things that this league wants as well
as the Sunday closing Of saloons. We
want that sort of reform that will re-
dound to the reputation Of the city
abroad in business matters, as we'll as
morals, and 1 know that DR.. Schiff-
mann is to be depended on in this"
The meeting that resulted in the con-
clusion that DIR. Schiffmann should be
reported for Endorsement was held be-
hind closed doors. There was in at
tendance the members of the executive
committee, including one delegate from
each ward and the additional advisory
membership of four from each of the
wards. The question of the indorse-
ment was discussed at very consider
able length, but the conclusion arriv-
ed at was unanimous.
The executive committee was direct
ed to draft report that will embody