The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-01-25
A SPECIAL FROM SHREVEPORT
"A Severe Throw Down for the Admin
istration of Mayor Queries

20, is published in the columns of Lat
est News in Louisiana a special dated
at Shreveport January 10, of which the
paragraph quoted as follows is the
feature of prominence although sand
wiched between other items:
i There was considerable discussion
over the ordinance to provide for the
removal of screens from saloons which
would obstruct the view on Sunday
The ordinance was defeated by vote OF
| 8 to 6. This was regarded as a severe
ltfrow-down for the administration OF
i Mayor Andrew Queries, who tried hard
Ito get the ordinance through, An ordi-
nance was passed providing for the
erection of safety gates at all railroad
crossings. ....
Without assuming or presunlng to be
a champion Of Mayor Queries or of his
i administration. the Caucasian, without
reserve or hesitation, must declare that
this statement is as ungenerous and it
! is unfounded There is manifest in every
/ line of this exaggeration a spirit of po-
liticaI antagonism which may have been
suggested with the view and for the
purpose OF rejecting diseredit and odlum
ION Mavor Queries and his admlnistra-
Etion. 1t will not be gainsaid nor can It
| be disguised that the recent success of
what is styled the Queries v ing or fac
Ition in politics is regarded with signifl-
canoe throughout the State by all poll
Itieians of practical experience and has,
as has been pointed ont by the Caucas-
ian, the agitation for the repeal Of the
Sunday law, preeipitated on the public
recently was designed in no friendli-f
ness for the Queries administration.
The suggestion Of the repeal of the
Sunday ordinance was checked by
demonstration Of public sentiment and
the fact that even if repealed. the State
law would stand and that Mayor
Queries would give it loyal support.
But there is the fact, the bold, stern fact
that "a majority Of the council, ten #
not more. Of the fifteen were and arr
radically opposed to the repeal Of the
Sunday law ordinance. and will uphold
it as written and recorded.
The screen ordinance was devised to
simplify the enforcement Of the Sunday
law ordinance by compelling the law
breakers to leave in full view their
bars on Sunday. It was designed TO
protect those who have respected and
observed the law Il will be conceded
that the ordinance was drastic, but It
requires drastic measures to reach
class who break the law by the most
ingenious receptions. After the screen
ordinance had been introduced in the
council and laid over, under the rules,
for thirty days, those who have obeyedl
and respected the law pointed out to
their friends IN the council that the or
slinance if carried and enforced would
operate great losses on them through
the removal Of their glass and orna-
mental screens which had cost them
hundreds and thousands Of dollars. Il |
was also made manifest that the screen
ordinance would not prevent the selling
of Mliiskey in places where groceries
and provisions are sold and where the (
bars are kept ii the rear end Of these
places which were protected from view
By boxes and barrels -four or other
kinds Of produce Il IS also true that |
there were public denunciatiorls in /
churches which were intended to give
force to the maintenance Of the Sun
day law and at which the question of I
screens was considered. And it IS also
true that an able and eloquent divine,
representing the Ministerial Associa
tion and church people, addressed the
council in support of the Sunday law
and the proposed removal Of all screens
iii saloons but the saloon people had a
legal representative well learned in law
who appealed forcefully to the council
to not adopt the proposed screen ordi-
nance. AT the end OF the oratory the.
question was called and subjected To-
some parliamentary tactics. A gentle
man OF the council desired postpone
nent Of thirty days so that he could
give il earnest consideration, saying
that he was opposed to il as it I
stood, but he would perhaps vote for il
later II amended This gentleman
is one not classified with those
who are politically aligned with Mayor
Queries. His remarks were liberal and
conservative. In answer. the gentleman
who had introduced the ordinance de-
sired that vote be taken on il without
postponement. Il was well understood 4
and there was no need Of argument or /
Of postponement When the final vote
was recorded and announced-8 to o.
ii was nc, Stlrprise Ia those who were