The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-25
FORMER MAYORS
ARE INTERESTED
THEY BELIEVE MAYOR SHOULD
HANDLE QUESTIONED UNHAMP
Point Made that Extreme Reform Ele-
ments Actually Impair Possibilities
Of Practical Progress by Demanding
Too Much-Mayors Not Committed
to Decency Not Molested.

Do mayors committed to a decent
policy. receive support and commenda-
tion from the elements which stand
for morality and reform?
Minneapolis is just now undergoing
another agitation of the paradoxical
sort which has raised this question in
connection with previous administra-
tlons. One former city executive said
today that mayor Ill whose election
the moral issue played no part was like
~ to be let alone to administer the mu-
nlclpal affairs as he thought best. On
the other hond, man committed to
decency was likely to be criticized and
nagged by the extreme reformers, who,
instead of helping the cause of morali-
ty, eventually threw 'discredit upon
what practical good the mayor was
seeking to accomplish.
The situation appeals strongly to sew
man in whom the community has ex-
pressed it's confidence by election is
entitled to work out his ideas under
the assumption that he is honest and
sensible. Here are the opinions Of
some men who have been thru the mill:
Says Robert Pratt:
Enforcement Of law is, in fact,
with the mayor. That official should
Go just what he personally thinks is
right and best for the city, independ-
ent of and uninhuenced by the de-
mands of others or his personal polit-
ical ambition. This is the only course
for mayor to pursue. l have said
law enforcement is a matter Of personal
discretion with the mayor. In this I
mean that there are many laws and
ordinances created solely for emergen-
cies and not for daily enforcement.
For instance, there is an ordinance
which says that three or more people
shall not congregate together on side
walk. Surely, if a mayor should order
the police, to, enforce this rule strictly,
public, and rightly. This ordinance is
only to be enforced in case Of violence
IN the event of strikes or like circum-
stances, when men with evil design
congregate on a sidewalk to obstruct
the public thorofare. It is hard to say
just where the line is to be drawn in
| the enforcement of law in this dis
cretionary class of ordinances. A great
deal depends on prevailing conditions.
The enforced closing of saloons after
regular hours OF business is an ordi-
| nance belonging in this class. Mayor
! Jones should do exactly as he thinks
best In the matter. Citizens should
not hamper him with insistent advice
when he is doing what he believes is
|
Guard Against Reaction.
| 81 think the present mayor can run
the city administration without the adj
wee OF former mayors or anybody
else,' said former Mayor John De-
Lalttre when approached on the subject
''The papers say that already Mayor
Jones has closed all the gambling places
and it so, he has done remarkably well
and is to be commended. I noticed re-
Gently there was a meeting at the Swed
ish tabernacle of ministers and others
calling on the mayor to close the sa
looms out Of regular hours allowed by
ordinance. I believe it is proper fol
the ministers and all to let the mayo,
alone and rely upon him to do as he
feels is best. Ministers should be level
headed enough to know that it is i'm
possible ever to make a city govern
ment a paradise. They should rest con
tent with having good man as mayor
Of course, when a man takes out :
liquor license, he agrees to observe tn,
law, and legally this means Sunday
closing all over the city. But if thu
saloons are closed down too tight, a
the next election things will swins
Would be elected and the first thin{
we'd know the city would be again ru1
on the wide OPEN plan. Too stric
enforcement of the saloon closing Law
: will surely react against the best inter
ests Of the city. This is the way lool
at it, altho at the same time I am no
a believer in the Sunday saloon. Mayor
Jones is doing. remarkably well ant
should be let alone.' H.
"Mayor Jones was elected to sit OF
the lid and he should sit there without
interference from ex-mayors or ex-con
|victs' said James Gray. rHHe is giving
the city prudent, progressive admin
; istration with an increasing tendency t.
repress the vicious and useless element
in the community. This is what Mime
} apolis wants rather than a wave O.
, hifalutin reform which will DISCUS
} moderate people and cause the cleo
: torate. to swing back at the next cleo
tion.' ' . st.