The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-30
Plague Spots Cleansed.

Main and other streets across the river are
now free from the menaces to the morals OF
the community, and know not what stimulus
has been given to the real money value OF every
foot of property within the areas described
What still exists in this form Of vice is kept
segregated from publicity and held under the
closest surveillance, with no assurance OF pro.
lection Or official sanction, and with prompt
punishment Of any breaking over the regula-
lions that are laid down for decent behavior IN
public. I
The plan of progressive and further restr1c-
ton viii be strictly followed until the atmos-
| phere Of the larger downtown business area
will be as wholesome as city suburb
Public solicitation upon our streets once te So
extent a thing of the past Robberies in the
| socalled red light district are almost unKnoWh'
| and relatively few cases of disorder are re-
| ported. And here again the evil OF graIt mas as
| been eliminated for these poor unior'uhales U,
| the under world have been ofhclaIy notified
| that any attempt at extortion, by o1hcers OF
| individual, If reported to the authorities VIII
be as promptly punished as If Its victim were
engaged in legitimate occupations. x;.
| In the matter of regulating the liquor trahc
and restricting it to its legal rights there mas
been almost revolution in methods. Inc
strictest scrutiny is given to all applicants loi
! licenses, and, with the whole-hearted ana ever.
| ready cooperation of the council committee Oh
| licenses new standard has been set up. busl
| nesslike methods in the matter of recurring the
prompt payment of license money nave Deel
introduced in the department having tnls Hia'
in charge transfers Of licenses are not permitted
and the personal responsibility Of the man benlno
\ the. licenses been hNed, bars closed
Y promptly at midnight as required by the CIT!
ordinance, and the numerous devices for setting
s. aside the law and securing occasional or regula
extra privileges by the holders of such licenses
| have gradually been abolished.
Reform Takes Much Time.
=: 1t has taken hard, persistent and skilful work
to accomplish this, for the liquor seller, taugh
by years of easygong administration, and thr,
political connivng, to expect all sorts OF favors
fights tenacously and to the last ditch before
he gives it up. Crimnality and corruption cal
invariably be traced to the door of the illega
and law defying saIoonkeeper; with some AM
notable exceptions, it is my belief, after con
siderable personal experience, that the salool
! in particular and the liquor business in genera
are responsible for very large proportion o
+ the crimes committed in this city, and by con
trast 1 am willing in fair play to give cred1
| to those saloonkeepers who are always W1llln
to keep within the law and to conduct the1
bars upon the basis Of decency and good order.
The ordinances against conducting w1neroom
| and selling to minors, intended directly to pre-
tect the youth Of both sexes. have been strict
! and impartially enforced, and the record of car
celed licenses speaks for itself upon this sui
ject, while the convictions in municipal cou1
| for the past eighteen months will furnish som
interesting evidence OF the genuineness OF tn
reform 1t is a running fight however, an
eternal vigilance Isl the price Of freedom frol
this inefarious business. 49,.