Bridgeton pioneer., 1907-11-14
CONFISCATE THE
GUNS AND PISTOLS.

Ahere has Deen no topic SO generally
discussed in this community for long
willie, as has the Italian question.
Pretty much everyb body feels that the
question is a most serious one, and
great fears are expressed that there
will be serious tronble growing out of
the recognized bad conditions.
There are two things that make lot
OF trouble among the nearly four hun
dred Italians that have recently come
to Bridgeton. They are drink and
firearms.
So serious has the condition become
that special es are maintained in
North Bridgeton. While the uni
formed officers are in sight quiet
reigns. The moment the officers are
out Of sight, there is bedlam and
shooting.
Among the Italian colony pretty
much every man has pistol or gun.
Many Of them sleep with them and
they are ready for instant use. No
lass than nine guns were bought by
these Italians one day last week. All
are loaded all the time. 10 addition
the men carry knives that have razor
edge and n6eule point.
The hot Sicilian blood is quickly
fred, Excitement will do it. Liquor
will do it. One of the officers who has
hpnn Iookinu oftor tbo T,o1;ou.
that there would be far less trouble if
the beer was kept from them. Hun.
dreds of cases are distributed among
these Italians every week. The officer
referred to says that they all drink
beer, men, women and children.
Three bottles W II make almost any.
one of them under the influence. Yet
they drink it under any and all cir
cumstances
It isqui'e beyond question that some
OF the Italians sell the beer for five
cents bottle to their Italian custom.
ers. 1t is quite certain that much
beer is delivered to the Italians by the
nottlers by the single case. Others. a
lew, will get the regulation two case
lots
ls might be well to place the iron
hand upon these people rather than
the Black Hand The authorities
might take a decided step that would
poss bly, be little over bounds but
Is would be safe.
These hot headed, tempestuous.
drinking foreigners are not safe to
have firearms. They are not &C.
qualnted with the laws and make no
effort to understand American cus-
toms. Why not take the guns and pis-
tolls from them? Make the effort a
war measure and confiscate the entire
arsenal up there. II the Italians
didn't like it they would have the
privilege of hiking off and getting out
OF town 1t is not likely that any of
the officials would suffer Indictment
for taking the guns away from the ir-
rssponsibles. The Cumberland county
grand Jurors would have pretty fair
understanding of the situation.
The guns are fired nights and Sun.
days.
All North Bridgeton is disturbed,
In the still midnight hour, without
the slightest warning, the shooting
will begin and every body in the neigh.
borhood will be frightened and ex.
cited.
1t would be all right to send the
officers up there and oonfiscate every
hrearm that could be found, no matter
where it was found. The city would
stand behind the officers, and there
would be no serious consequences
And the beer business should be
looked into. There might be some
very good disorderIy house cases grow
out of conditions up there. Arrests
could be made for selling by the bottle,
and other quantities. That would
make it uncomfortable for the gang
and they would soon begin to feel that
there was strong arm of the law.
1t wouldn's make much difference if a
few mistake were made. Much good
would be accomplished, and condition, ,
warrant some unusual efforts put
forth.
Then there should be some move to
have something like sanitary condi-
tions prevail. The Board Of Health
won'tallow pig sty in the back yard.
Why should these foreigners have
shem in the house? People up about
the locality where these fellows are
most numerous say chat the conditions
OF the houses are simply awful, in.
descrlbable. How else can it be when |
twenty or thirty people are living in
small six roomed houseg
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