The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-26
SAYS IT'S IMPROPER
MAYOR DOESN'T LIKE LANGUAGE
USED IN TABERNACLE
ADMITS RIGHT TO CRITICIZE.
BUT DENIES PREACHERS RIGHT
TO WILEY AND ABUSE.

Mayor Myers Directed the Attention
of the Code Setting Forth Certain
Prohibitions i'm the Matter of Con-
duct in the Park-Indecent and
Improper Language Not Allowed.
Attorney Said Granting of Privi-
Iese for Tabernacle Removed That
Portion of the Park From the
Field of That section-What MIR.
Jones Said About 1t.
The question whether the law govern
ing the conduct of individuals in Forsyth
Park or its extension has been violated
during the revival meetings at the Taber-
Exchange. City Attorney 8. B. Adams
called upon Mayor Myers and the latter,
after the transaction of the bust
ness upon which the city attorney had
called, directed his attention to Section
lao of MacDonell's Code of the city of
Savannah. which reads as follows:
ut shall be the duty of the chief of
police. under the order of the Mayor, to
detail "a sufficient force to preserve order
and decency in and around the public
park known as Forsyth Place, and sucn
policemen so detailed shall arrest and
bring before the Police Court for trial,
all persons who may in any manner dis
turb the public peace or be guilty of any
indecent, riotous or disorderly con-
duct, or offensive or insulting
demeanor. or who may use any in
decent or improper language in or around
said park; and any person convicted be-
fore said Police Court of disturbing the
public peace, or of indecent, riotous, or
disorderly conduct, or offensive or insult
ing demeanor, or of using indecent or i'm
proper language in or around said park
shall be fined in sum not exceeding $lOO
or be imprisoned, or be made to labor on
the public streets, squares or lanes for
a period not longer than thirty days"
Mayor Myers was seen by a Morning
News reporter about the conference. He
said that the city attorney had told him
that in granting the use of the Park Elk
tension, which, by the Code, is made a
portion of Forsyth Park. the City Coun-
Gil had removed the force of the ordi-
nance from that particular spot
that had become the site of the
to the service of God.
The city attorney. the Mayor
said, was not asked for an
opinion whether language used there had
been indecent or improper, but merely to
pass upon the question as to the applica-
ton of the law to the Tabernacle and
the methods that should be followed in
the conduct of the services.
Il do not object to criticism said the
MoNr@
criticise an official whom they may be-
lieve to have been derelict or negligent
in his duty. Criticism should not be ex-
claimed against, but I do object to de-
famation and arraignment upon purely
personal grounds l do not believe that
a preacher should be allowed to cry out
from his platform that city official has
lied, or that he should refer to another's
grin and liken him to a. little dog that
had been caught sucking eggs. There
should be a limit to criticism, and that
limit should stop far short of such per-
scnal vituperation, slurs and leveling of
low invective."
The Mayor will not proceed further in
the matter. He accepted the opinion of
the city attorney. and it will be allowed
10 rest. He is convinced that language
has been used in the tabernacle that
would come within the section quoted, but
the religious character of the place has
taken away the right to prosecute for its
violation.
When a Morning News reporter saw Mr..
Jones about this matter, he said he had
heard that the Mayor had disclaimed all
intention of desire or intent to apply the
ordinance to him, or to attempt it's en-
forcement against him.
For this reason" said the evangelist,
II prefer to say nothing"