Evening journal., 1909-09-11
.ONDIEIONSIN MIDDLETOWN
Praise For Police Officers Who Has
Been ENFORCING the Law.

Been Enforcing the Law.
Editor Of THE EVENING JOURNAL:
Referring TO an article In your valuable |
aper, Wednesday. September s. III the
editorial column under the heading, "A
IiddletOwn Problem" in regard to the
aturday night crowds. It seems to me
hat the petitioners labor under the inn
preston that they are the most import
ant people o. the town; that nothing
must be done that thev think will inter-
fere with their private interests; that
certain people must be allowed undue lib
erty at the expense of the comfort and
pleasure Of the majority, and that the
laws must bo ignored for their benefit,
and license allowed to certain class;
further, that the officers whose duty it
is 10 preserve order, regardless OF race
OF color do not exercise good judgment.
Let us consider these points. Every
citizen knows that for many years past
efforts have been made through the press
and otherwise to break up these satur-
day night crowds. They we're and are
nuisance, Il has not been fit for
white woman to walk the streets on the
nights mentioned. II by chance our
wives or daughters were compelled to be
out on matters of business they were
crowd Of negroes, men and women, and
compelled TO listen 20 foul language: for
II is a fact well known, that it is not our
best and most respectable class Of coll
ored citizens who congregate thus. They
90 about their business and disturb no
one. Again. these petitioners stand IN
their own light; for do they not know
that II this state OF affairs were al
lowed to prevail that it will effectually
cut Off the trade or patronage Of the
great majority Of our citizens on a Sat
urday evening. II is possible that two
or three Of them may find the colored
trade the most profitable to them, but
they are placing themselves in posi-
tion to forfeit the respect Of the ma
1ority, and hence curtailing their pros
poets of increased business in the fu-
ture. The law knows no distinction in
race or color and an efficient police Of
hcer who discharges his duties conscien-
tiously will break up a crowd, black or
white, as a most effective way to pre-
vent disorder and trouble and that is
what our present chief Of police Howard
w. Stanley has been doing without any
discrimination, fear or favor. whatever.
All have been treated alike. and that is
tho proper course. Surely readers, you
are not willing to allow that the colored
people are to be allowed to do as they
please and be entitled TO more privileges
than the white citizen? The police have
exercised good judgment in handling
these crowds. They have treated white
and black alike as can be proved be-
yond doubt. Instead of condemnation
they deserve our highest praise. What
vented from doing their duty--one word
will answer--lawlessness. Who will be
responsible7 Answer-The Town Com
missioners. Why? Because it is their
sworn duty to see that peace and order
is preserved.
They now have in Mr.. Howard w
Stanley a most enlcient. impartial and
gentemanly officer who deserves the
hearty support Of every falr-minded cit.
izen. and certainly is entitled to. by
virtue Of his appointment the strongest
moral and legal support of the Board
Of Commissioners. This board has done
great deal for the betterment Of oui
town. financially and otherwise, and
cannot do less than support the officer OF
their choice and his subordinates.
/ In regard to the statement that colored
people were driven TO their homes or out
of town at a certain hour, that is moi
true, there is no law to that effect moi
have the police any orders OF that kind
The writer made a diligent inquiry In re-
'-ard TO that noint and found that nor
ton OF the petitioners statement untrue
Further If that petition were again pre-.
sented to the signers there would be
very few signatures, as the matter was
not duly considered by all who signed
Il.
] trust that the Town Commissioner:
will continue. to merit the good will and
esteem OF the vast majority OF our town
by ignoring the petition in not relaxing
In the least their orders to the police
FOR the preservation Of order which hat
heen more productive under our prescn
chief than ever before.
citizen.
Middletown. September 10.