The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-23
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
A Plea for Moderation.
To the Editor of The Journal. -

To the Editor Of The Journal. ~ =: - - =
If the meeting of the reformers on Sun
day resulting in the appointment of a
delegation with resolutions to. be present
ed to our mayor, urging Sunday closing Of
the saloons, means a campaign in that di-
rection, I wish as a temperance man to
enter my protest IT is. needless move
by people a little too previous to create
a sort of mock issue with the present adj
mnistration, as tho the law and order
people must clanor for what is right and
proper against a supine ,nerveless leader
of the city government. -..-r
We should have learned the lesson that
eastern cities have learned in the natural
friends of a reform administration I'M
wisely forcing his hand and thereby estab-
fishing the well-known rule that no reform
administration can succeed itself. This
has been so in New York and many other
smaller cities. -:.t.. -
/ No wonder that all temperance people
are impatient over the liquor. traffic and
the saloon holding on to fexistence so
long. More than twenty-five years ago
the w. G. T. y. promised the speedy
death Of both, but in all candor it must
be confessed that very slight progress can
be noted. But I have found that even the
Almighty is in no hurry. AS Guizot says,
a step is taken, and ages have rolled
! away. Gan we not extend q little of that
| forbearance to our new mayor. who has
been scarcely long enough in his seat to
know how it fits? Even Hercules re-
quired a few days time to clean the
! stables of antiquity. How could we expect
a worse job to be accomplished by less
| than a god? Secretary Seward used to
say in matters Of reform, that he was
content if the other end of the plank was
the higher no matter how slight
|. I find enough evidence already to con-
rNoA hat ho ,,o~x to- 4r1> a,,S
over that kind Of plank, and am go-
ing to be content to withhold my impat
thence and let him do the work to which
he has been called. He doubtless realizes
/ thai he is mayor over the saloonk eepers,
i Brewers and liquor merchants, as well as
over the church people and other law
abiding citizens.
/ When I hear of the red-light district
/ being pinched into the smallest boun-
daries, the gamblers on the wing for
4 other climes and all other dangerous
classes given to understand that this is
4 not welcome ground to inhabit, sam
i willing: to venture a little faith in the
4 good time coming and not expect every
i thing to be done in a minute. Il have
i known the mayor from boyhood, but am
i not commissioned to speak for him. yet
II feel assured that not one Of the people
who attended that Sunday meeting in
4 behalf Of Sunday closing of the saloons
i would more like to see it possible than
4 the mayor himself It's idle to discuss
q the. threadbare question of enforcing
every law and ordinance laid down Ever
q were that So, still the administration
q would have the privilege of selecting the
time and opportunity There may be
!, more pressing business demanding prior
q attention am willing to await his de-
Ecision in that respect. In the name OF
81 law and order and the hope of the future
Il government of this aueenly city by It's
true friends, rather than Its enemies, tho
processing concern for its welfare. say
hands off; give the only white adminfstra
u ton in years a chance, onlysa chance. s.
s. + Minneapolis May %. -I1. ID Jackson.