Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-09-15
VOLUME LII
Times Takes a Stand.
Editor Watertown Leader:

generous offer Of few months ago TO
use space III the columns Of your paper
for the discussion Of matters Of public
interest. Allow me to say few words
in reply to the defense Of the Daily
Times Of Watertowns lack Of saloon
regulation.
The fact that some Of the decent and
law abiding citizens Of WatertoWn be-
lieye in something more than a LAA
regulation, or rather NO regulation at
all Of the saloons, also in the passage by
the city council Of an II o'clock closing
ordinance, does not by any means infer
that these exemplary citizens are TEN
PERANCE CRANKS, as the mOuth-piece
OF the GANG-RULE would infer.
For the Times to come out and insin-
uate Iiarl to those who lay claim to the
TRUTH that young girls in their teens
are permitted to frequent some Of the
saloons Of WatertOWn, is about as shall
low a defense OF the unruly element as
can be imagined. Tut, tut, small fry
You surely do not mean that these citi-
zens Of nigh ideals, who wish to see de-
ccncy and some degree of uprightness
prevail, would wilfully tell an untruth.
If that is the inference Of the guardian
angel" Of the Times, it would be far bet
ter for him and those under his protect
ing (?) wing to lapse into silence, for
oiInnoo ic comatipoou tbn conctuoTU of
prudence, and in the case of the shallow
defense, it would have been golden.
The fact that laws have been openly
violated in WatertOwn for 10, these
twenty years. is no reason why such
violations should stare new generations
in the face Indefinitely, champiOned by
the Times and a few who apparently
profit by their PROTECTION few
who seem to care more for their ill
gotten gains than they do for law and
order or the Well-being of the rising
generatiOn-our boys and girls.
The writer is not a TEMPERANCE
CRANK, but believes in the regulation
Of saloons to the extent of DECENCY.
The Times asks: HAS sentiment
changGd?" 1t certainly has and the au-
thor of this communication wishes to
congratulate the Kew. Thomas HenneS-
sey, Alderman Humphrey, +. A. Hoffman
and others on the fact that they are ex-
ponents Of some principle tending to ad-
vance the moral welfare Of the com
munity and are not content to follow
in line with the Hinkey-DInk gang.
Does the aIl-knOWing, all-seeing edi-
tor of the Times KNOW for FACT that
young girls ARE NOT permitted to en-
ter some Of the saloons of the city? Does
he know, positively. that a few OF the
saloons Of this city are not headquarters
for street-walkerS, some OF whom might
be called by more proper and undIgnl-
fed term? Does the editor of the Times
deny that gambling is permitted with
no restriction whatever in dungeOn-like
gambling denS? Will the Times deny
me when | say, it was only week ago
last Sunday that two young glrls-ten-
der age, mark you-Were seen leaving a
saloon in this city, staggering drunk,
locked-arms with a couple Of men much
their senior? The Times may say this is
lie" but say to you, it's the TRUTH.
WatertoWn Is an orderly city as far as
murders and riots are concerned. But
it is NOT orderly in respect to laws
governing the liquor traffic, which is
permitting young girls and young men
to 90 to ruin under the eyes of the
guardians of the law, whose sworn
duty it is to enforce the laws.
In speaking of the activity Of the Rey.
Thomas Hennessey in trying to prevent
the granting Of a new saloon license in
West Main street, the Times becomes
real humorous and springs the follow
ing Joke: You know that when you
want anything the only way to get 1t is
to go after it." Now this must be the
rule with the Times man. When he
wants something" he "goes after 1t,
but is blinded to everything else.
The Times in its boast that Water
town is the most orderly city in Wis
consin of its size,' asks: "Do you wish
to make it Worse?" If something that
resembles enforcement of the law and
a little respect for the same is going to
make it WORSE, then let's take chance
at it, Notwithstanding the prediction OF
perditiOn, for, as the Times, the organ OF
the lawless, says, there has been no re-
strictiOn in WatertOwn for the past
twenty years.
As for the Times himsy defense and
sarcastic attitude toward few OF our
citizens who have the moral courage to
stand by their convictions, [ can only
say. for shame! Does the Times realize
that many of the saloon keepers of this
city are favorable to the IL O'Clock clos
ing and would welcome such an limo
yation after the drudgery and lack of re-
strictiOn for the past twenty years. Come
out with some sober thoughts, argu
ment and logic, Mr.. Times editor. 1t Is
truths and more morality the better
class of citizens are clamOring for. But
then, the Times evidently is not expos
tulating along thoseElines.