The Washington herald., 1908-08-15
Atlantic City.

Il is most unfortunate that so often
revelations of Iawbreaking or the lack
Of proper law enforcement come about
through the heat C: political strife. But
in this country, this cause. more than
any other. operates 10 make known and
bring before the public for discussion
conditions that save Tor political re-
elimination. would have continued with
out comment
Political fighting is what has caused
public discussion OF conditions al Al
lanuc City Once the thin edge OF the
wedge Of public opinion is inserted. It
IS easy 10 perceive how wide is the cleav-
age between law and order We get
AZ the facts that al Atlantic City the
liquor laws are constantly violated. a
former gambler comes out frankly and
exposes The fact that gambling. more or
less public. is carried out in various parts
Of rhe city. and &hat with one thing and
another. II would seem. II everything vas
70 be believed. that Atlantic City is
q so-r q modern Sod0m. and the people
and the officials Of the city are coming
II for severe blame
First. last. and all the time. We are for
The strict enforcement Of law For IN
this country. at least. the law is not
something forced upon the people by a
governing desDot. but Is the viii Of the
people. freely expressed and inrrusJed 10
the peoples servants for execution
We imagine that the people Of Atlantic
City are as law-abid-lg and as moral a
people as those Of any other municipality.
and We not think that they are fairly
open 10 condemnation for the acts Of the
hoIiday-seeking multitude that Jhr0ng the
place during the summer months. The
great capital Of Atlantic City. in The first
place, was its magnificent location and
us bathing beach, second to none in the
world Year BY year the place grew in
popularity. until to-day 1t is the sumner
Mecca for thoussuds-nay. hundreds OF
thousauds-of pleasUre-seekers from all
parts Of the civilized world
IN measure. Atlantic City is sort Of
summer safety-valve- Within certain
limits people who go TO Atlantic CITY for
their holiday throw or restraints that
hold them back in their home. towns
With the gusto Of caIIow youth. they go
against all Of the catch-penny schemes
in the booths along the boardwalk: they
eat drink. and are merry. each IN his
separate way
Il Is undoubtedly true that LIQUOR is
sold there after the legal hours. and that
is because there are thousands demand
ing IL There may be gambling and other
NV infractons; they are there because
the peopIe-not the people Of atlantic
City, though they proft largely, but the
visftors-demand these things. To DENY
that the laws. such as they are. can be
enforced. is 10 deny the power Of our
Institutions; they can be and will be, #
there is sufficient public opinion behind
them.
To evade the law. 10 defy IT, to get
around It and avoid il by a trick: these
things are damnatory to our institutions
and TO our national character. There is one
way and only one, TO straighten out affairs
at Atlantic City 50 that this. one Of the
most popular seaside resorts IN the world.
shall not be disgraced- That way lies
n the strict enforcement Of the law. If
the law is not liberal enough. If IT does
not allow enough latitude 10 the pleasure
seeker. if It mars the holiday, then let
public opinion declare itself 50 strongly
that the law VIII be changed The power
Of the people is in the peoples hands;
il IS for them 10 decide how far they
desire 10 carry their summer frolic and
then GO thunder. not in opposition 10.
the law