Middletown transcript., 1910-06-18
oBsTRUcTlNG SIDEWALKS
The Transcript Suggests a
Remedy for the Evil

All good citizens, white and colored,
agree that the congested condition of oul
sidewalks on Saturday nights requires that
they should SO far as possible be kept
clear of persons standing upon them, and
that to secure this result the police officers
should have authority to keep them clear.
We believe that our town officers have in
the main tried to do this courteously and
Justly. That in some instances they have
made mistakes we also believe. Indeed
eight of our largest merchants have ex'
pressed the opinion that the rule as to
obstructing the sidewalk, was being at
times too strictly enforced, especially
against their colored customers.
The TRANSCRIPT recognizes that the
task of these officers is difficult one, and
calls for the exercise of patience and good
judgment, and that certain rough, un-
reasonable persons can be influenced in
no way but by the use of force. But in
the main we believe our colored people
desire to obey the law, and to show them.
selves law abiding citizens, and that they
will generally respond to fair and kind
treatment. In the Interests of justice to
all parties, and OF good public order The
TRANSCRIPT suggests that the officers use
their authority with all possible gentle
ness and patience, avoiding the making
of arrests except in cases of plain and
persistent refusal of the person to obey
the law.
The officers and all citizens VIII not
forget that Saturday night is the one time
in the week when colored folks from near
and far have their weekly social reunions,
and necessarily hold their meetings partly
upon the public streets and sidewalks and
in the stores where they deal. They have
practically no other time or place in which
to spend their hour or two of friendly
social and business intercourse. Then
too policy, if not justice, bids US remem.
Der that their presence in our town is a
matter Of considerable importance to
every one of our storekeepers, big and
little, and moreover the prosperity of our
merchants to which the colored people
thus contribute is in the end, more or
less, profit to ali citizens.
On the other hand, The TRANSCRIPT
would have the colored people not forget
that when they stand in such numbers
upon the corners and sidewalks as to
leave no proper portion of the pavement
open for free travel by the public, they
are in their turn doing a thing which is
not fair or Just as regards the rights of
others equally with themselves at liberty
to use the sidewalks. The obstruction OF
our sidewalks on Saturday nights has long
been a nuisance; but The TRANSCRIPT be-
lieves that our colored people have so
acted principally through ignorance and
tboughtIessness; therefore it wishes that
leading and influential persons among
them would appeal to them to avoid this
blocking up of the main corners and side
walks, by spreading themselves along
other parts of the streets, and by standing
only on the curbs and in such small mum.
bers at any one place as will not cause
the sidewalks to become blocked. And
we wish the several pastors would read
this article in their churches on Sunday,
and make strong appeal to their mem
bers and hearers to try and see If the
colored people cannot show themselves
willing and able to meet the authorities
halfway in an attempt to treat them
fairly and kindly.