The Cairo bulletin., 1909-12-28
IMPROVEMENT DEMANDED OF
CAIRO'S MORAL CONDITIOD
Citizens League Executive Committee Pre-
sents Requests Which Are Favorably Re-
ceived by Mayor and City Council

dealt with in practical and firm way
so as to render it as inoffensive as
possible.
The League, said Mr. Aisthorpe,
was not disposed to dodge anything,
but it did not know anything stronger
than the arm of the law to bring
about better conditions, and this it
had decided to invoke through its ap-
peal to the city authorities. The po-
lice had been severely criticised; per
haps accused of things of which they
were not really guilty, perhaps it was
merely laxity through which the
vicious element had gained such an
ascendency and were tearing the city
down much faster than others oou.d
build it up. Other cities were in like
condition, and there was general
protest all over the country and it
was time to act in Cairo. He had no
malice or sting for anyone and want
ed only the goodwill and hearty CO.
operation OF the city authorities in
this movement to make a better
Cairo.
The mayor protested against the in
timation that conditions had been
bad only during his administration,
contending that the evils complained
of had existed all the time.
c. s. Carey expressed the belief
that Mr.. Aisthorpe did not mean to
say that conditions had been bad only
under Mayor Parsons administration.
He knew abuses had existed ever
since he had come to Cairo q years
ago; but they had been gradually
growing: it was natural growth as
a result of want of restraint. The
Leagues demands were timely and
not unreasonable. He was in position
to know that manufacturers had re,
fused to locate here because OF the
bad moral conditions in the city.
While it would have to be admitted
that much good work had been done
in the way of physical improvements
and the present administration was
entitled to much credit for this, ii
was true also that these improve.
ments were great burden upon the
people and unless their property in.
creased in value as a consequence the
cost of the improvements would prove
hard to bear. To increase the value
of property was necessary and the
way to do this was to bring more peo
Pile here, so as to create demand for
it.; but this was out of the question
unless the moral conditions were I'M
proved SO that outsiders would be at.
tracted here and induced to locate
here. Ever since he had come here
he had heard of Cairos wonderful 10
cation and all that was said was true.
but something had held the city back
and 1t was time now to find out what
Ii was.
Speaking of the proposition to close
saloons from IL to 5 a. m. Mr.. Carey
said during these hours the legiti-
mate saloons did very little business;
the dive did most or practically all of
1t. and this ought to be stopped Good
citizens ought to go home at IL
o'clock "and If they won't they ought
to be made to-" said the speaker
The man who wants to
run his saloon lawfully is entitled to
protection from competition by the
dive. You are about to raise the
license on saloons to $1,000, and the
respectable saloon can not afford to
pay it il it must compete with the
dive. AS to public benefits that would
result from closing saloons as pro
posed Mr Carey said his information
was that most of the crime committed
as a result of saloon carousals occur.
red after IL o'clock midnight.
Mayor Parsons said Cairo had been
kept back a great deal because 1t lost
standing with eastern financiers
when it repudiated so per cent of its
Indebtedness years ago.
Alderman Scullin could not see
that closing saloons at midnight
would do much good from moral
point of view. The all night saloons
afforded shelter frequently to poor
fellows who had no other place to
stay Saloons were taxed heavily and
to cut down their hours of business
would be great hardship to many.
He ventured to say that on the even
ing of Jan, more than half the sa.
loon men of Cairo would have to bor-
row 50 per cent of their license
money.
Mr.. Carey replied If the dives we're
driven out the respectable saloon
would have better chance; the dive
keeper could afford to pay the higher
license partly because lie got people
into his place after 10 o'clock and
robbed them and pursued other
methods which decent saloon
keeper would not resort to. There
was no disposition on the part of any
member of the League to interfere
with the legitimate saloon; all recog
nized the saloon as entitled to exist
the same as other business; but pub
lie gambling, prostitution and robbery
we're no part of the legitimate saloon;
these ought to be stopped and unles