The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-14
Should Give Names of Witnesses.
Editor of The Tribune

Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: The following letter is one Of the many
received since the Mems union and the NUM-
cipal league began their work in this city:
L. b. Sturges, Esq.
Dear Sir: You would be doing morally good
TO the community il You will send your agent
out here after the Constable, --- --,
Of the ward. He gets from two to five
dollars every month in each and every 'lIole'
in.the.Wall" in his bailwiCk in the ---- ward,
which nets him neat little sum in the month,
where there are, | should Judge, between fifty
and sixty speak-caSics. | do not believe he does
any official business, because the alderman,
------- --, and he are not on officially
good terms. lie is too busy to work for the
alderman, all his time is taken up looking after
the "spcak.eascs' BY aTesting the constable
for not returning those "speak ak.CaScs' would do
more good than pulling all the "holes'in.the'
walls in the ward II that done we would
have an honest constable 10 begin with and more
licensed saloons. would pay license if my
neighbors will. Please give this your attention
and obliged
(Signed) A Saloonkecpcr who has got to
ante up" every month to the Constable"
The writer of the above and similar letters are
hereby informed that in sending their communi-
cations, which are always welcome, they should
| give the names of witnesses who will prove the
| statements made. While the reform effect il
| having remarkable success, its work would be
much less tedious and expensive il those in sym
| pathy with it would take the trouble to assist
| in furnishing testimony
| II they have none, they may be mistaken, and
he doing injustice to innocent parties. Dozens
| of suffering wives and mothers have written
| heart breaking complaints Of the hellholcs that
are running their loved ones, but only few
| have furnished the names OF witnesses.
| This "saloonkceper who has got to ante NJ
| every month TO the constable" of his ward
| should also be willing to 10 his part in convict
| ing his prosecutor. Ii he is not courageous
| enough to give his name and that Of others
| how can he expect to do all the work? We
| would much prefer to convict these rasCalh
| constables rather than an equal number o
! "spcak-casy" offenders We have good cyidcnc,
| against some Of them. But our task would h,
much easier and cover more ground il the vie
| Tins of these cntcrprising gentlemen would come
| out and assist,
| To that end we would say that in 50 far as w
| are able. VIZ will cndcavor TO secure lcnicncy fol
| any unlicensed dealer who, having abandoncC
| his business before being arrested, shall furnsl
| evidence that will secure the conviction Of ''pro
| tccting' constables and other Understanding
| officials.
The names Of the parties furnishing the cvi
| dcncc need not be made public, necessarily, bu
should be furnished to Mr.. Robert Wilson, thu
agent Of the societies, or 10 Messrs Beers o
| Torrcy, the attorneys.
The letters are well enough hut will rccev,
little attention, unless the writers (almost al
| ways suffcrers) show a willingness 10 do wha
| they can towards the grand work oi making
scranton a safe and decent place Of residence fol
| "Wivcs," Mothers and everybody else,
Edward B. Sturscs.