Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1915-01-21
TWO VIEWS OF MEMPHIS ROW.

q. N. Estes, attorney general, ap
peals to the Legislature of Tennessee
thus:
81 ask the Legislature Of the Stat
of Tennessee to take over the police
department of the city of Memphis
and thus remove $50 armed traitors
from the camp of law enforcement II
the City of Memphis. y
In support of this most extraordin
airy request, Attorney Estes has sent
out the following circular to the mem
bers of the legislature and the news
papers of the state:
"Do you want to see the prohibition
law enforced in Memphisf Ii 80, take
the power out of the hands OF the
Mayor and Police Commissioner of the
City of Memphis and put 1t in the
hands of commissioner to be appoint
ed by Governor 7. @. Rye. This can
be legally done It should be done,
because the City of Memphis, by not
enforcing the prohibition law in its
borders, has refused to exercise duty
and power delegated to it by the iegis-
latule. The State should step in and
take back the police power from the
CITY of Memphis and put 1t in the
hands of a police commissioner who
shall be appointed by the Governor of
the State.
sin st Louis the Police. Commits
sioner is appointed by the Governor of
Missouri On Sunday in st. Louis sa-
looms do not sell liquor. They 90 not
open their doors. Why3 Because the
State of Missouri has law against
Sunday saloon opening, and the State
has provided agencies and instrument
talities to carry out its laws. Sunday
closing in st. Louis is as unpopular
as prohibition is in Memphis, yet it is
effectually done because the State has
control Of the police department of the
City of st. Louis.
''About 80 per cent. of the people in
Memphis want an open town. There
fore, public sentiment is extremely
hostile toward enforcement Of the pro-
hibition law. If the people Of Mem
phis had an opportunity Of voting on
the prohibition law, they would repeal
it, and by this means they would be
able to have such law as they want;
but the Legislature declares what
laws shall govern the City Of Mem
phis. and, regardless, Of the opinions
of the citizens of Memphis, they are
compelled to submit to such laws as
the Legislature passes.
"The platforms of both the Demo-
cratic and Republican parties strongly
declare for rigid enforcement Of the
prohibiton law, and that no back
ward step shall be taken in the matter
of prohibitions; therefore, take 1t
that the Legislature will not sccede to
the wishes of the citizens of Memphis
and give them local option, high H.
cense and segregation. As the Legis-
lature will not be disposed to modify
the law to suit the citizens of Mem
pbis. IL certainly ought to provide ad-
eouate means and agencies for the en-
forcement of the prohibition law in
this hostile community.
uMy one county detective The Is
maid out of the State Treasury and Is
not controlled by a local paymaster)
cannot sit on the chests OF 700 saloon
lists scattered throughout "a square
miles of territory. operating under the
and protection Of the
Memphis police department.
"Tnere are about $50 policemen
and detectives in the City Of Memphis.
The uolice, acting under orders of |
Mayor Crump, not only have neglect
ed. and are now neglecting, to carry
,ut the prohibition law, but they have |
actively tried to crush and defeat ev-
sry effort my Office has made to en-
'orce the prohibition law.
al have one county detective, and |
here are $50 policemen and city de- |
ectiyes There are $50 policemen and |
,ity detectives because it takes $50
POLICEMEN and city detectives to ade-
,uately police a city the size Of Mem
,his. NV one detective cannot do the
york of 150 policemen and city detec-
ives. particularly when be is actively
imposed by the police department.
"Enforcing the prohibition law in
lemphis, with the police aiding,
and giving support to the
aloonists, is very much like having
81 men in a military camp fighting |
n enemy, where only one Of the 15t
! loyal and the other $50 ale traitors.
"Since March my Office with one
elective, and actively opposed by the
olice department, has secured $50 in
unctious in the Chancery Court and
II in the Criminal Court--a total Of
o..
"We have convicted 46 saloonists,
nd f8 of these have appealed to a
igher court. Thirty were sent out to
,e workhouse, and the workhouse
acting at the request of
,e City administration, made things
lsy and pleasant for tho saloon pris-
,ers. OF course. the refusal Of the
ork house commissioner to make the
Iloonists do hard work almost emas-
Hates work house sentences.
AZ ask the Legislature Of the State
Tennessee to take over tho police
apartment Of the City Of Memphis, :,
ID thus remove 100 armed traitors
om the camp Of law enforcement In
o City Of Memphis" IL
Two Memphis newspapers comment 3
us on the Cempassi case. III,
''Only one saloonist sentenced to the a
,rkhouse forced TO work. It Is an 3
d coincidence that the only retail G
,uor dealer who has had the hardi- o
cd to point an discriminating finger
the wholesaler has been placed In
ms and forced to do hard work an