The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-08-04
On or0F
That south Haven Lid.

contest that has been III progress there
for some time past between those OF
her citizens who desire peaceful,
orderly Sunday and those who desire
that no restrictions be imposed on
that day and that the cid" be taken
off and cast into Lake Michigan or
sent across and dumped into the /
dirty, stinking Chicago river, has
brought Van Bureu's proud young
city such notoriety as has seldom been
obtained by a town Of its size.
To one at a distance and who is not
directly interested i'll the matter, it
would appear that the end desired by
the advocates Of law and order might
have been better attained by pursuing
different course from that taken by
those who instigated the movement
for a more quiet Sunday.
The statute confers upon the COM
mon council of city of the grade OF
South Haven the power by ordinance
TO restrain and prevent vice and I'M
morality, gambling and noise ana
disturbance, indecent or disorderly
assemblages, and 70 punish for the
same; to apprehend and punish disor-
DERBY persons. to prevent injury or
ANNOYANCE from anything dangerous,
offensive or unhealthy; to. prohibit
and suppress all disorderly houses
and places, gambling houses, etc; TO
regulate or license billiard tables, ETC. {;
to prohibit and suppress disorderly
houses and gambling resorts; 70 pro-
hibit selling or giving away any m
toxicating liquors; to regulate, re-
strain or prohibit all sports, exhibit
tons. etc; TO preUent and PUNISH vio-
lations Of the Sabbath day, and TO
require places Of business TO be closed
on that day. The foregoing are few
of the numerous powers conferred by
statute on the city council, which, 1t
would seem. are ample for reaching
any result that might be legitimately
required.
No attempt, however, seems to have
been made in this direction.
Another method would have been to
proceed under the provisions of section
1912 of the compiled laws, which pro-
vides that any person who shall keep
|
house. or who shall do any manner OF
labor or work, or be present at any
dancing or at any public diversion,
shop or entertainment. or take part III
any sport, game or play on the first
day of the week shall be punished by
fine not exceeding ten dollars for each
offense.
; Section 1913 provides +hat any per
: son who shall be present at any OF the
above enumerated games. sports OF
diversions shall be punished by tin'
l not exceeding five dollars.
/ Under the provisions of the fore
going statutes persons offending
might have been arrested under prope
E complaint and the public prosecute
/ would certainly have been ready to do
D his official duty i'll the matter.
e The marshal is the chief of polio
: of the city, subject TO the direction o
e the mayor and it is his sworn duty t
t see that the laws and the ordinance
d and regulations of the common coun
: Gil are promptly enforced, and for tn
h purpose he is expressly clothed wit
e all the powers of the sheriff OF tn
{ county.
" None of these methods was attempt
$ ed, but Sheriff Britton was called o.
: by the mayor TO put on the ho.
d He consulted the public prosecute
n and was very properly advised that
). he did anything he must act unde
d the provisions of the general La
q above quoted and that he could sho'
:. no partiality; if he closed one plac
e he must close them all. He prompt
is advised the mayor TO that effect an
r after due deliberation was told by tina
r official TO go ahead, which he Oil
putting on the lid" and screwing
lr down so tight that, TO use the languaS
n of a South Havenite, it was SO quit
n that one could hear a person chang
his mind two blocks away. VINE
John does a piece of executive wori
e. he does it thoroughly and this was 4
y, exception. but it was more than tt
y, movers bargained for and an abortiN
&c attempt has been made to blame II
tn sheriff for doing his duty too we'll
delegation from the city, headed
some of the clergy even came to inte
view Prosecutor Chase i'll the matte
-. claiming that they did not ask +
:. such thorough enforcement of the lay
~ Mr.. Chase explained to them tn
-. Britton had simply done his dut
III nothing more; that he could not clio
one place because somebody want
:" it closed and leave another one OPP
,,- because somebody else wanted
Of open.
The attempt to hold Britton respo
or sible for doing anything more th'
oh his official duty hasn't leg to sta
frl on. Last Sunday, it is said the
was removed and everything run wi
open. and outsiders are wonderi
ON whether henceforth it is to remain
or on.
Some nonsensical talk Is bel
reported about calling OH Govern
Warner for troops. There is no like
- hood of any such action being take
, NC the law is ample to regulate matte
NV and to make the city just what II
ion jority of its people desire.