The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-11
MINISTER'S DISAGREE ON
STATE OF PUBLIC MORALS
Rev. Dr. Boyle Pastor of House of Hope Presbyterian
Church, Declares Gambling Is General throughout
the City-Rev. David Morgan Insists That Condition
of City Is Better Than at Any Time in Past p Years.

The moral condition of the city as
whole is better than it has been at
any time in the twenty-five years that
have been in st. Paul, and l be-
lleVe that have been around as much
at nights as any investigator"
This statement was made by Rev.
David Morgan, head of the Bethel, and
noted throughout the Northwest as the
most persistent investigator of the
Sums Of st. Paul Whenever the real
character of a saloon or other place
of business is desired it is Rev Mr.
Morgan who is generally asked to get
the information. He has often done
such work for the churches, and is
noted for the fact that he gathers his
information first hand. He does not
take the word of an agent. Rev. Mr..
Morgan was an interested auditor at
the House of Hope church last night,
and afterward consented to an inter-
view. He said:
Judging from my experience it seems
10 make little difference what party is in
have been in the, city, and l have ALWAYS
taken an interest in such matters gam
bling and houses of ill-fame have been
permitted. Taking everything into con-
sderation, and admitting that much of
what DR.. Boyle said is true, 1 still con-
slider the present police administration
had since 1 came to st. Paul 1t is GER
talnly superior in all respects, and par
tlcularly aSirto the points on which DR..
Boyle laid stress, than formerly and
recently existed.
Agitation Not Timely.
1 am heartily opposed to gambling
houses, to policy shops, to crap games
social Ac tO no lot or
l believe that it should be strictly con-
hned to one limited section of the city.
But 1 have. little hope that any of these
things can be regulated by the outcome
of the present election. What 1 would
like to see would be an awakening of
the people after election. If this was
irrespective of party politics. But this
cannot be accomplished on the eve of an
election, when such an agitation must
be designed to injure some of the candi-
dates before the people.
1t will be remembered by many of the
good people of the city that we tried
before, under promise of vigorous
enforcement Of the law against evils such
as referred to by DR.. Boyle, to elect GER
tain men to office. 1t has been the case
right along, and the present situation
in the past. If such an issue is to sue
coed it must be made the leading feature
OF a campaign and not come in as a sec
ondary consideration and merely be used
to create a prejudice that the facts do
not warrant. There is nothing in the
present conditions that warrant a gen
ton, which, to my knowledge, is con-
Quoted in a manner that cannot be
criticised, except as to the existence of
these gambling places. -...
Fewer Places Now.
I have no doubt, that the statements
made by Dr. RcyIe are founded on facts.
| There are gambling houses, policy shops,
crap games, large number of houses of
1l-fame and many rOomers. But such
was also true. of every previous admins
matter on what party ticket the officials
were elected, but I believe that there
are fewer such places, and those that
than at any previous time in the twenty
years that l have kept track of such mat
terS. l say this knowing whereof
come when the welfare of the city viii
be considered above that of the political
party, and then it will be possible for us
to elect men to office who will carry out
the will of the gOdly people of the city
and give US a clean city morally.
1t is true also that the saloons, in many
cases are open after midnight and other
wise probably violate the law, but those
familiar with the city government know
that with all Our former efforts it was i'm
possible to accomplish anything toward
regulating such places. From what 1
have seen, and l have investigated this
phase also, the saloons are held to a
more strict accountability than ever be-
fore. There are not so many complaints
Of liquor haSing been sold to minors as
in previous years. This regulation alone
is credit to the police administration.
If DR.. Boyle had begun the preaching of
such sermons as he delivered last night
two years ago, and had received the ac-
tive assistance of other ministers, it
would I've been possible to have elected
a reform ticket at this time. But the
effort is too late. The candidates have
been nominated, and have not been even
jects. The evils complained of would
exist under the administration Of either
of the candidates. This being true. l
at this date, unless it is the plan to
carry 1t along until the city election two
years hence, by which time it may be
science"