Mexico weekly ledger., 1907-05-16
''CIYIZEN' WRITES
ON ORGANIZATION

To the Editor OF Ledger.
Your generous appreciation ano
commentator Of former letters In
duces me to offer further suggestions
which / trust will not be too great
burden upon your columns.
Mexico needs, and must have, .
central Civic Organization, called By
whatever name you viii. 1t must In
clude all clauses and interests, the
business men, the bankers, the dec
tors, the lawyers, the railway men
men engaged in the public service
the ministers Of the Gospel, and oil
Others having an interest in the de
velopment OF the city. Let me illus
trate: l have In mind a beautiful little
city OF fifteen thousand people. There
were about twenty saloons The IL
quor interest became arrogant and
dictatorial. Gambling was open and
fragrant. A popular minister took ~
the crusade, following q shocking
murder In one OF the gambling dens,
and for weeks the city was In a fer
mentbf excitement. Old friends be-
came estranged. Men Of prominence
met and passed without speaking.
Women drove by without turning
their heads 10 greet old-time acquaint-
ances. There were bitter personal
quarrels and some disgraceiul street
fights. The churches were Ia a fer
ment. Business was disturbed. At
last, seeing that a chronic state OF
turmoil does not promote happiness
and prosperity, a cool-headed Old man
brought about a conference between
the warning elements. An under
standing was reached. Ministers Of
the Gospel, saloonkeepers, business
men, bankers, doctors, school trustees,
all came together. The mayor and
chief Of police were summoned. The
understanding reached covered the
main points in dispute. the saloons
we're to close at eleven O'Clock at night
without watching or question; gamb-
ling was TO be wiped out; no more
saloons were to be licensed; those al
ready licensed were TO move into a
certain district, away from the
churches and schools, and ito report
to the chief Of police any infraction
Of the gambling ordinances. Peace
was restored. A business understand
ing was reached, In a business way,
and it has worked to perfection to
this day. This incident shows what
may be done by organization and bust
ness methods, instead Of war. One Of
the railways Of the town ran close to
the residence district. The blowing
OF locomotive whistles at night great
ly disturbed the rest Of the people.
An individual complaint would have
received no attention. beyond a cour-
tCJuo ICpig lluA onC iOOdl u1dobCl
expressing deep regret that the com
plaintant had been aroused from his
slumbers. The chairman Of the Bust
ness Mems Association took up the
matter and called in person to see the
General Manager. An order was is
sued instantly suppressing the nui-
sance. Engineers and firemen knew
that their Jobs we're at stake; that
they could not afford TO butt their
heads against a united and determined
city, and so the nuisance ended at
once.
This is what organization may &C.
complish. The united business and
professional interests Of Mexico ART
too strong TO be resisted. But they
must confer, compare ideas, and act
as a unit. individual action amounts
to little or nothing. A command from
a powerful and united organization
would work wonders in the simplest
aud easiest way.
CITIZEN.