Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-30
DR.. George Giglinger, Is Lead
ing the Moral Crusade In
Davenport
SAYS DEVIL HAS FIRM HOLD
The Energetic Young Priest Alleges
That Even the Grand Jury Bends It's
Knees and shirks Its DutyThe Fight
Against Saloons Will be Bitter
One - Afraid of Too Much Reform.

| Davenport, Nov. 30.--"I won't give up
until have gained my point. 1t seems
| that the ,1evil has so firm a hold on
| .Bucktowr' that even the grand jury
| bends it's knees to him and Shirks its
duty. The fort will finally be taken
| not by moral suasion, but by hammer
| ing and battering it down"
So declared DR.. George Giglinger, the
energetic young priest who has led the
moral crusade in Davenport since
Bishop Ccsgrove first delivered his
philippe on Davenport's wine rooms
dance halls and brothels and declared
1t the wckedest city in America"
DR.. Giglinger told a remarkable story
of attempted bribery and neglect of
duty by public officials. and declared
his intention to continue his moral
crusade to- it's bitter end.
Il was offered quite a large sum OF
money to draw off," he said, with
prominent business man as a medium
but IL will make no difference. The
man approached me and asked me II j
would lik. to make $500. OF course,
said l. anyone would like to make that
much money. What shall do for 1t?
You don't have to do anything, he
said. That's easy ! answered. We'll.
ing and you can have $500 Plain
enough, wasn't It? But I have been
doing something, and don't expect to-
receive that little present.
Il wrote to Secretary of the Treas
ury Shaw that had information that
the interra al revenue laws were being
violated here" continued Dr. Giglinger
and he turned the communication
over to ]. w. Yerkes, commissioner OF
internal revenue. who sent two secret
service officers. Detectives Foller and
Painter, here. They visited various
levee and 'Bucktown' resorts, finding
that call for beer always brought out
bottle, although the women said that
1t was brought from the nearest sa-
loon They ra.r the wine room evil.
and are ready to give evi1ence before
the grand jury in regard to 1t wher
called. Dllapidated Front street houses
OF four rooms were found renting fol
$3.50 month for immoral purposes.
Mr.. Painter said he had seen many
towns, hut Davenport was as wide
open as amy he ever saw. There were
plenty OF suggestions. too, that graft
was supporting these conditions"
Il sought to have the last grand jury
proceed against the wine rooms" con-
tinued the clerical crusader. The sug-
gestion received a lukewarm greeting
from the county officials. I appeared
before the grand jury myself last Tues
day afternoon In a short address l
sought to show them that the ends Of
justice demanded the protection OF our
youth from immoral influence such as
exist here. Our wine rooms are ruin
Ing boys and girls, physically and NOR
ally, and / urged that the offenders
should be brought to justice. l told
them OF what the secret service agents
had reported, and gave them the names
Of seventeen witnesses who would tes-
tify to the condition existing here.
.Tmagina my establishment next day
when read in the Democrat that the
jury had been discharged without ac
ton upon this matter. l could hardly
believe my eyes. They certainly woe
fully neglected their duty.
From hints that have reached me
since, understand the jury thought
the city administration should take
hold OF the matter, and that 1t was
afraid of opening up too wide field
for reform.
Attic disappointed, am not dis
couraged. I know am right and that
public sentiment favors doing away
with the wine rooms. They and tn a
low dance halls must go. and midnight
closing o. saloons will be insisted up
on.
"As to the gamblers. have received
assurances that games with tools at
least are to be done away with.
AT one time considered the adyisa-
bility of holding public meeting. but
concluded not to. as the only point that
could be gained would be to show that
the people are in sympathy with the
and we have had abundan
assurance OF that.
Not one saloon in Scott county has
a legal existence, but we will not fight |
the saloons as saloons. but are only
after the disreputable ones
II feel now that the county will not |
do anything in the matter OF throwing
out the wine rooms here, and hence
am corresponding with legal firm out
side of the city. The matter will be
fought out to the bitter end"
AMMlIAi rRIA1 Az laNJA rpYN |