The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1905-07-29

mean by suppression Of gambling, the
arrest OF negro crap players. mean
that those who are higher in the So
cial scale should be suppressed, from
the bucket-shop and future market to
the gambling room where men and
boys play cards or shoot craps.
The negro is entitled to protection,
from vice, and his crap games should
be raided, but equally guilty is the
white man of low or high degree who
conducts or frequents a gambling
den, of whatever nature or variety.
The law is explicit, and it is your
duty to see that it is enforced, through
the mayor and the police force of the
city.
The statement has been made here
this morning that the police were un-
able to suppress gambling because no
one told them or gave accurate infor
nation as to the location of the gam
bling rooms.
That is not the province or the duty
of the citizens
He pays his taxes and has the po-
lice force for his protection. He is
not detective, and is not called up
on to inform you that gambling
room is being conducted by GER
tain person at certain address. 1t
is the sworn duty OF the police force
and city officials to investigate the
rumors heard. and apprehend GRIM
mails
1t has also been said that the gam
bling statute was a nullity by rea-
son of its severity. While I may
agree wifi the statement the penalty
is unduly severe, that is not your
province.
The law is on the statute books
and it is your duty to enforce 1t. lib
it is a good law it should be enforced
and if bad law its enforcement will
lead to its repeal. But the legislature
and not you must make laws, and you
must enforce them.
The greatest evil in this commu-
nifty is the bucket shop; the place
where gambling can be done in ftl-
lures. We have all seen its evils.
One man is a fugitive from justice,
another has been branded by imprls-
onment and others have been injured
financially and morally by this evil
1t is against the law; will you sup
press it?
| do not believe in wreaking the
vengeance OF the law on the helpless
unfortunate women who are outcasts
of society, and suffer for the sins
of the past and of humanity.
But while they are, in my opinion,
"a necessary evil, they are an evil
which should be restricted and regufa-
Ted.
There is no justice in Furnishing
them and leaving men running gam
Ling dens and sell whisky to minors
to escape. They are pitiful, and at
the mercy of the law; the others are
bold and apparently defiant.
This question of the enforcement of
the law is up to you and the citizens
of this community are waiting to see
what YOU will do with it.
IF your police will not enforce the
law after instructions from you, get
others who will; but you cannot shirk
your responsibility. We must be law
breakers or law keepers; we must en-
force the law, regardless of Our opin-
ion as to its being good or bad law
we must either do our duty as citi-
zens, and you must do yours as sworn
officers of the law, or else hoist the
/ black flag. Be one of the other
| make the town law abiding one OF
else abandon the pretense and fe,
| it be wide open
/ | am not Puritan nor do favo
blue laws; but | am sure that no off
cial can afford to do other than SUP
press lawlessness, and cure the evil.
from which this town is suffering. Ii
this way alone can we proteet ~
| | youth of the community. and this W,
must do
Several other citizens present spok
forthe enforcement of the law, anon
them being E. N. Thomas, DR.. Boeur
and H. 7. Crosby. At the conclusio
of the talks the council instructe
the marshal to enforce all the cit
II lar. ,,.t:>t, hn x,ror,xcaA ~ dn