The Minneapolis journal., 1902-02-22
A "PIG' IN MIDW AY
A Tale Of Law Breaking and Desti.
tuition.
sT1Rs HAmL1NE
They Relieve Destitute Family and
Appeal to St. PauPs Chief
of Police.

The Hamline W. c. T. u, though an
active and busy organization, has been
stirred to unwonted activity by sad tale
of suffering growing out Of the patronage
of a Midway blind pig by laboring man
of the vicinity. Not only have the SYM
pathies of the members been appealed to
by the unhappy condition Of the mans
family, but their Indignation has been
aroused by seemingly convincing evil
dence that the pig" was running with
the connivance If not the positive con-
sent of the st. Paul chief of police.
The story of the familys condition is
typical. The husbands fondness for drink
has not only deprived the wife and mother
OF his support, but has made him an ac-
tual burden to the family, which is sup
ported by the mother through her labors
at the wash tub. They were able to get
along, however, until several days ago
the mother was forced by sickness to take
to her bed. In day or two the money
! was all gone, there was no way to get
| fuel and bread, or medicine for the sick
woman. The little ones faced starvation
| or beggary, while the mother unable to
! lift hand to relieve their wants, suf-
| fered the double torture of sickness and
mental anguish, and little girl of 1C
| struggled with the housework. AS if, this
were not enough, the husband and father
| continued to drink and to demand money
with which to buy liquor, when it was
not forthcoming threatening his little
| ones, who would flee to the mothers bed
! side for protection. The father, heartless
| under the influence of liquor, drove one
of his little boys out and compelled him
to beg ostensibly for the family's needs.
but in reality that he might get money
! With Which to buy liquor. Worse than
this, he compelled the boy, a. lad Of about
IS years, to go to the "jOint" and obtain
the liquor for him.
| Driven almost frantic by these conli-
| tions, the mother managed to send word
to friend, who, learning the facts, went
! straight to the st. Paul chief of police
! and urged that the woman in charge of the
blind pig be compelled to close her place.
The chief-and Eere is the thing that
| rouses the wrath Of the Hamline women
denied not that such a joint as COM
! planned of existed, but that the woman in
charge would sell to a Child.
! The friend did not stir to urge her
point, but taking the car, went directly to
| the home of the destitute family, obtainei
some of the bottles in which liquor had
been taken from the joint to the house,
took the small boy who said me had pur-
! chased the liquor, went back to the chiefs
office, showed the bottles and allowed
! the boy to tell his own lethetic tale.
The chief was convinced. AS the story
was told the Hamline women yesterday,
| the chief said to his Informant: '"That
woman promised me OF her knees on this
very spot"-indca.ing a certain spot on
the floor of his olice-"that she would not
sell liquor to Children
This practical admission that the place
was being run with the chiefs connivance
though under possible and nominal re-
strictjon, is the thing that has stirred the
Womem in way they have not known for
| long time, and while they are doing all
| in their power to relieve the suffering
family they are preparing to move the
chef to action II possible. In behalf of
the chief, however, they say that on hear
! ing the boys story he gave $5 to aid in
the care of the family. With this and
| other contributions a nurse has been OBJ
tanned to take care OF the sick woman