The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-06-01

Reverends J. M. Fulton and
W.H.W. Boyle Relate Some
Personal Experiences.

Yesterdays meeting of the police
commissioners was enlivened by the
presence of Rev. John M. Fulton, of the
Central Presbyterian church, and Rev.
w. ii. w. Boyle, of the House of Hope
Presbyterian church, and the proceed
ings had added spice from the pas
sages al arms between DR.. Boyle and
Commissioner O'Connor.
DR.. Boyle said that he had partici-
pated in a moral crusade in Colorado
Springs. town of 10000 people, and
that the result had been that the city
had been cleared of all houses of i'll re-
pute, even those of a suspicious char
acter having been done away with.
land you contend, as / understand"
said Commissioner O'Connor, chat the
| town of Colorado Springs was cleared
OF the social evil
Even the one place that was left.
and it was small, was compelled to
close" was the answer of DIR. Boyle.
There are, believe" declared
Commissioner O'Cennor, more divorce
cases originating in Colorado Springs
than any other town of the size in the
country. 1t has the reputation of being
a place where married women are de-
>bauched.''
know the town WE'LL" answered DR..
Boyle, and % not believe that such a
charge is correctly made. 1t would
please me to see the evidence"
1T will be looked up" declared Mr..
O'Connor. THAT is the reputation of
the town, and it is difficult to reconcile
what you have said with what is COM
mon report
AN investigation should be made"
said DR.. Boyle.
by all MEANS answered Mr..
O'Connor.
DR.. Fulton Tells an Experience.
AT the opening of the meeting of the
commission DR.. Fulton was requested
to lay before the commission the facts
that he possessed DR.. Fulton said that
he had made numerous Investigations,
and that during one of his trips, while
in the Empire theater, he had been So
llclted by woman. He cOntended
that he had knowledge of great many
other places of a questionable charac-
ter, and asked that the police commits
sion enforce the law and close such re-
sorts.
but you have charged and repeated
the accusation that there is graft con-
nected with the police management of
| the houses of prostitution" said Com
missioner Hardenbergh.
There was no intention on my part
TO deceive" answered DR.. Fulton. II
used what I supposed was an official
list of houses of ill-fame that existed
in 1899, and as there are not so many
places on record at this time. drew my
own differences More money was col
lected at that time than at present, and
l asked what was becoming of what
was not being collected"
Improvement Is Conceded.
'It will be conceded" said Commits
sioner Hardenbergh, "by people who
have lived here for -four or five years
that there is less of such crime than at
any time in years.il " sgxrl5 xas is'3--A
DR.. Fulton answered. the statement
of Commissioner Hardenbergh that the
city has not sufficient policemen with
the assertion that if the policemen
were ordered to close the places it
would be done.
But it is the wide open policy to
which we object concluded DIR. Full
ton. "and we would like to have this
commission close all places of ill-re-
pute."
Throughout the discussions between
the ministers and the commissioners the
latter insisted, through Commissioners
Hardenbergh and May, that the senti-
ment of the city Is against it's being
closed" and the ministers were asked
st. Paul favors a change in the policy.
that has for years been pursued. The
| ministers insisted that it was the duty
IF the commission to enforce the law
as they found it, but the commissioners
thought that the people had declared
| against such a course at the recent
election.
AS a reason for reform DIR. Boyle
| said that he had been solicited by a
woman while standing in front of his
| church. Commissioner Haas thought it
| peculiar that in the forty eight years
| that he has lived in the city such a
| thing had not occurred to him. In an
swer to questions DR.. Boyle said that
| he realized that it is difficult to regu-
| late the social evil because of the close
| proximity or MINNEAPOLIS.
Was Certain Wright Couldn't Win.
"To show that politics has nothing to
/ do with the course am pursuing
| said Dr. Boyle, II will say that six
weeks before the election was certain
that Mr.. Wright had no chance of be-
| ing elected"
| but many of the men who are your
| friends DR.. Boyle, tell me privately
| that they are thoroughly satisfied with
| the police administration of the city.
! They may generally talk for reform,
/ but they will not vote that way" re-
/ marked Commissioner Hardenbergh.
1.-THE members of my church and of
| my Sunday schools will sign for the
| closing of the saloons at midnight and
| Sunday and for the enforcement of
| the laws against the social evil" as
| serted DR.. Boyle.
so will mine" said DR.. Fulton.
But they won't vote that way" re-
torted Commissioners Haas and Har-
| denbergh.
AS the ministers left the room the
commissioners arose in their honor and
| assured the visitors that their call had
/ been appreciated, and that it was to
be hopei that they would come again.
/ AS a parting shot Commissioner May
| told them to produce the evidence that
| the law was being violated by the sa-
lloonkeepers and Eewd women and that
prosecutions would follow.