Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-28


it 10 others to find a better way
Let Lights shine.
The good book says, Let your light
shine. That is the principle | have
adopted. let my light shine upon ev
ery evil that l possibly can. When q
young man starts on the downward
road he does not start the fatal slide in
public. Evil devices and the devils
deeds seek darkness and hidden places
| Stop 10 think how few of our crimes
are committed in the public view OF
the world and you will be amazed to
see what small percentage were not
| committed under the cover of dark
ness or in places secluded from the
public eye. Evil in its various forms
shuns publicity.
Vice takes hold of a soul started on
the downward road like fire does a
prairie. II starts from as small thing
as g match, and spreads. sweeping ev-
eryth;ng before it; conscience, honor,
loved ones. everything is lost. Light
and publicity to sin is like water to
fire. IL you can give il sufficient light
and publicity it must die ont.
Here we have a remedy by which we
can control the fame of sin if We can
not put it out entirely. Therefore am
like a hound after it's prey. | keep
well upon the scent of all hidden places
where crime is committed. stop gam
bling in saloons, back of cigar stores,
drug stores. club rooms, and all seclud-
ed places. Put it up in the second
story of building where il is con-
stantly under the eye of the police de-
partment and upon a public street
where many pass the stairway; close
the back doors, put a door part way
up the stairs. which at all times must
be locked TO prevent any innocent per-
son entering. then place light at the
foot of the stairs, SO that the passersby
can see everyone who enters. Should
one sneak in, he is detained upon the
stairway while the door is being I'M
locked, and is thus exposed to the view
of the passerby. Allow no pass keys
TO this door. l cut opt all skin games;
limit them 10 straight percentage
games, control being the chief object
until can prohibit l never attempt to
conceal crime in any form. l arrest
the gamblers with a warrant for mis-
demeanor as often as necessary IT'D
maintain order and full control, bring
ing them before the police Judge every
time. l allow no one to secretly col
lect fines. They must be paid to the
police court, thus throwing light anu
publicity one of our greatest evils.
Glare of Publicity.
No young man who has any respect
for himself, or regard for his good
name or who holds his position in es-
TEEN, will enter these hell-holes under
this glare of publicity. Only the hard
shell gamblers, who. if no place is as
signed them. will seclude themselves,
and send out what is known as capperS
to bring what is called fresh blood
which means the kindling of a fire in
the heart of some heretofore good man
or boy, that has been duped into play
ing his first game of chance in some
secluded place, thus creating a desire
to win back what he has lost, which
means his final downfall and ruin.
This can only be accomplished in
time. but if the mayor is the peoples
mayor. he will ever have before him
the aim of reaching the highest posi-
BILE moral standing of his community,
and will work gradually. but faithfully,
toward this Nnd. This has been my
aim, and l have tried To show the
progress SO far as | have reached il.
What | will do when | have the sport
ing element taught that they cannot
maintain secret places remains to be
seen
One hing is sure. I never will say
that here is no gambling going on in
as long as know there is.
let it be public or private.
Ioolx WIN, Hurror