Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-06
DEPENDS ON THE PEOPLE.
Police Are Backed by Public Opinion
Where the Laws Are Executed.

I'm the wave Of municipal reform which
has been sweeping over this country within
recent years. more particularly in some
of the western cities" said a prominent
| minister Of a northwest congregation to
a Star reporter, land several specific in
| stances which have received extended no.
tice at the hands Of magazine and other
writer's, great stress seems to be laid upon
the fact that finally the police in these
cities really suppressed vice, gambling and
| illegal liquor selling.
"Of course, the police in these instances
| were backed up by the mayor, who in turn
| had the support of the decent element, yet
Washington Is SO notably clean in this re-
spect that this city should serve as cri-
teron to other cities who would join in
this laudable movement, and emulate our
example.
This city is so pleasantly free from GER
| tain well-establshed civic evils existing
elsewhere that this fact alone makes of
it delightful place of residence for fam
| lilies. not to speak of her manifold other
| advantages. This quiet and law-abiding
| condition here is due primarily to the fact
| that our local police force enforces the
laws, and that this enforcement Is backed
up by a general sentiment of commenda-
| ton.
If it can be and it is done in Washing
ton, why cannot it be done in other cities
| ing in Minneapolis the notification of the
| mayor through the chief of police, that the
| saloons were to close at midnight on Sat-
| urday and remain closed until the appoint
| ed hour on Monday morning was received
with derision, and when the Sunday closing
| law was really enforced by the police, de-
/ rision gave way to protest and suits. but
| the order was sustained.
yet the Sunday liquor law in this city
| may be said to be faithfully complied with
| by both dealer and patron. and for one
day and two nights in each week this city
! is a dry town., and we are proud to see
such an observance of the law. The fact
that out of several hundred liquor dealers
in a population Of 1923 900 there are only
year for keeping open bar on Sundays
speaks louder than words for our law-abid-
"The same holds true as to gambling,
which the police have thoroughly suppress
ed in this city But he is indeed a thought
less student Of municipal affairs who does
not know that were this vigilance relaxed,
or were rel, 1t unsupported by public sentiment,
city which would call for the same ener-
getic movement on the part of the reform
element which we are now witnessing in
other municipalities.
1.-The lack of trouble in this city, and its
prevalence in other municipalities, would
go to prove, from my standpoint, that this
said, is really up to the inhabitants them
selves, and If the law-abiding elements
cannot induce or compel their officials to
act in accordance with the law, there is
something wrong primarily with the peo-
pie themselves. There seems to be that
peculiar element or atmosphere of corrup-
ton and graft in some of our municipal
titles that the officials therein cannot seem
to resist 1t.
I'm such instances; however, the people
should take courage from the example
which may be found in Washington, and go
ahead with the municipal house-cleaning
movements now under way. conscious of
the fact that If we can succeed here they,
too. may triumph in the end II they will
not let go once they have begun with the
clean broom"