New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-17
CLEANING UP GLOUCESTER
THE Law AND ORDER LEAGUE HAS
BEEN ACTIVE.
MANY sALOONKEEPERs INDICTED AND FEW
ARE LIKELY To EsCAPE-DEcENr
CITIZENS REJOICE

CITIZENS REJOICE.
Gloucester city. Oct Is (speciaD-The spirit OF
reformation seems to have struck deep into the
heart Of Gloucester. and there is promise that the
old regime ~ wide open saloons on Sundays Of
low dives hourshing day and night, OF gambling
dens running without h!ndrance and Of crime stalk
Ing abroad without apparent check seems doomed
to end at an early day. The change has been
coming slowly but surely and the present term Of
the Camden County Court ia likely 70 be taken up
n good deal with trials Of cases from this city.
The reformation leayen set in several years ago.
but apparently died because ~ the nsurmountable
task ahead Of IT, It was only sslumberng. how
ever and It got a fresh and stronger grip last
spring when the pastors Of the several churches
banded together for a supreme effort
The first move was 20 oppose the granting OF
licenses 70 those applicants who had openly vo-
lated the law by keeping the doors OF their saloons
open ON Sundays. Then they found that for years
many Of the saloonkeepers, in renewing their APP
phcations for licenses had secured the signatures
Of nonresident freeholders. of women and of nom
property owners. In some cases one signature APP
pcared upon many applications Still though all
these facts were presented to tho City Council
when the annual hearings occurred. no Roadway
was made. The Council practically ignored the
friends Of law and order. allowed the saloonkeep-
ers time to amend their petitions brushed aside
the allegations NJ violations Of the law. fragrant
for years, and granted all the applications with
about TWO or three exceptions Thus victorious. the
saoonkeepers sneerel at the efforts Of the friends
Of order and gave their doors n wider swing
This rebuff ala not deter the pastors from more
earnest efforts than before. They waited upon
Mayor Beaston. told him Of the odium that rests
upon Gloucester which is a hyword and reproach
all over the land Of how the people were ashamed
70 ADMIT OF their residence there. and now the
saloonkeepers and gamblers ruled the municipal
saloons TO close on Sundays and the Mayor prom
The mex, sunday the front doors Of the saloons
We're closed. bur the usual throngs which came
across from Philadelphia had no difficulty in find
rg the side doors and shaking thei~ thirst as usual
he Tere kndv gseed by bic he sn polee
men, who pointed out the entrances.
4 PRIEST ENCOUNTERS OPPOSITION
In vain priest and pastor decried the outrage
from their pulpits Their earnest efforts met with
little response from The authorities Indeed. Father
Connolly encountered violent opposition from those
Of his pensioners who were themselves in the
liquor business. and they threatened 70 appeal 70
Bishop " rFoul. They took their children from The
ShSo 6eg s, an" M S sSm 9 9uqao o
Church and ceased 70 attend any Of the services
dauntel. and be had the earnest cooperation Of a
large majority Of his parshioners who believed
elimination Of az least part Of the drinking resorts
ere t "S ne eSi ~sS t S. S
in practicaliy the sane Old way. The crnwds came
ana got what they desired in the way Of refresh
ment although the front doors Of the resorts
malned closed As the summer ended and tho
time for the meetings " the September courts
drew near the saloonkee1crs began 20 wonder why
seyerai rroninent Citizens had formed had re-
NAMED so silent anl whether there had ooen
still hunt lor them. They were thrown into con,
sternafion by sudden sVoop ~ Under Sheriff Sell
and force OF deputies who carried away nearly
worth from &c to SO each and which had WELDED
'E bos 40 ,ig imai,1tqired he Machines were
summoned 70 appear before Justice Stackhouse I'm
samen an answer enares Of man 1o lg Gent
warning 70 the saloonkepers. and they kept on.
THERE HAD BEEN A STILL HUNT
The Grand Jury met and one day last week the
eyes OF the saloonheepers were suddenly opened to
the fact that there had been still hunt for them
The Law and order Society addressed copies or a
letter 10 Presiding Judge c. c. Garrison. 70 Law
Judge f A Armstrong. to Prosecutor OF the Pleas
wilson II jenkins and 10 Assemblyman William J.
bradley VINO Is foreman Of the Grand Jury. beg
5mrfanf relation sustained 10 law and order 70
exercise the power vested IN them In giving Keller
This printed appeal brought from Mayor Beaston
of this cry an indignant proIe 20 nn,orss tbe
a~S sne,,ac oparges hefore HIM lie was
novnrioss he declared 10 get evidence against the
keepers of the saloons and could do nothing unesS
Tho Law and order League, howeyer had no. Io
been Idle during the summer. They procured me
services OF trained agents Of the fhaiepnia law n
and order Society who came 10 gloucester on
those SUNDAYS IN the summer when the saloon
keepers thought the night against them had been
dropped and these agents got al the evidence tney
Wished They mingled with the thirsty THRONES
witch found their way Into the side doors ~ ne
resorts and with careful memoranda OF tnelr isis
during the last week As result Of this crusade
large hatch Of indictments has been fouIp
ara~st the defiant resort keepers. and more are 70
follow because the Investigation IS not YET halsnTt
rriefor 0f every saloon in the city VIII nave 70
face charges ~ keeping dlsorderiy house a, lle
n~esent term Of court In view * the RATE or tl"aS
rounty hotelkoerers who We're refused renewals ol
their licenses hy Judge Armstrong because my
80 been found guilty Of selling On SUNG I"7
prospects for the Gloucester men are not a,.urlht
= Ana so there f. promise 81 better tnlheS lDt
cioucestor and he decent. law abiding QUEENS
who we're So delighted with the dsalh 9t, We
Ieeisia,iire hail with keenest pleasure TINS ~"
order Of things.