The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-03-27
THE REVIEW AS AN ApoLoGIsT.

As an apologist for the serious short
comings of the present Democratic ad-
ministration The Review is a success.
That paper is entitled to the approval in
violate the laws. No doubt that ele-
ment viii endorse heartily the senti-
ments expressed by The Review last eve
ming. Those who believe in decency will
not, or at least they should not.
Remarks made in the pulpits Sunday
night by several of Mankato's clergy
men appear to have struck the brush and
naturally there was a rafting and scat-
tering of those who received the charge
of truth fired in their direction. The
clergymen made statements to the eff
feet that wide open policy now exists
and has existed for nearly two years
in Mankato. and that there has been
more vice than should be in decent
community. The clergymen told the
truth. The Review does not deny the
charges but makes an apology for those
in authority, claiming that there is a
sheriff and county attorney who should
look after the offenders. This is poor
excuse and one which will not be accept
ed by the public. The mayor, the chief
of police and the officers are the persons
in authority in municipality and they
are the ones held responsible for the
enforcement of law.
The Review says The chief execu-
tive ~ city is not all powerful" A
Chief rvecutivs is at the head of a city's
government BE has at his command the
police and if the o'llesrs do not carry out
his orders an: enforce the laws and or
diuanc,.~ it i, within his power to dis
miss ti;ni from the Service. In Mankato
the Laws governing the saloons have
been openly and wantonly violated Sd
not % much as an attempt has been
made to halt the offenders There have
been scenes enacted in the wine rooms
of Mankato saloons that would bring
the blush OF shame to the cheek of
hardened FOUNDERS" Women have been
allowed to frequent these wine rooms
and not one word was said i'll protest py
the authorities until The Free Press
several months ago threatened to make
an expose of the whole dirty business,
and it was only on the promise of the
mayor of this city that reform would
be instituted that publication was not
given to certain information relating to
the disreputable places that was in pos
session of this paper. The mayor issued
orders to the police to notify women to
keep out of the wine roms. He did not
90 so far as to have the wine room pro-
prietors instructed not to- allow the
women in their resorts. Consequently
women have since frequented thems
So far as the law relating to the
saloons is concerned the mayor has made
no effort to enforce it. He knows, and if
he does not he should know, that the
saloons are offending against these laws
continuously.
What a farce is occasionally enacted
in this city. A few nights since man
and a woman were arrested at certain
house. 1t required the services of the
entire night squad of police to make the
raid. The prisoners pleaded guilty and
were fined in accordance with the charge
placed against them. The Free Press
will venture the assertion that on that
same night several saloonkeepers in this
city violated the law respecting the
closing hour and the authorities never
gave this matter even a thought.
The clergymen in question do not in
dulge in sensationalism' If The Re-
view had kept track of what was trans
piring in this city during the past year
and more it would be well aware of
the fact that these same ministers have
referred in no unmistaken terms to the
wide-openness, and at time too, when
no campaign was on. Now that an
election is to be held these gentlemen
speak as they do to remind people that
it is. their duty to elect men to office
who will clean the Augean stables and at
least make an effort to enforce the laws
No one has any desire to besmirch the
character of any official. The personal
ity of men in authority is not taken into
consideration in the present instance
1t is not the duty of private citizens
to make themselves officers of the law
Men are chosen for that particular field
and they take an oath that they will
perform their duty faithfully The mayor
on assuming the duties of his Office, takes
an oath that he will enforce the laws
and ordinances. he has no business to
outline policy of his own. 1t is his
duty to carry out to the best of his
ability the oath.
The Review has no case, so it simply
makes an apology and calls upon those
who do not like the state of affairs tc
keep quiet. The latter class, however,
will not be disposed to hush.
Vice and law violation are not necessary
in the upbuilding of community. Man
kato, while not hamlet, is not SO
large but what law can be enforced if