Arizona republican., 1916-11-25
The City and the Grand Jury

The issue lies between the city government and grand jury and whether the grand jury report is backed by sufficient evidence, majority of the people of Phoenix believe that body knew what it was talk ing about when it pronounced the conditions in this city depIorabe The county authorities, in earnest campaign to stop bootegging and gambling during the last year. complained that they received no aid from the city government They suspected. moreover that unseen obstacles thrown in their way by the police.
 Last summer. whatever may be the conditions now. gambling almost open and notorious. In some places craps were played and in least of them there regular crap table which it would have been impossible to conceal Poker and practically all the games except roulette which fourshed here in the olden days was easily accessible That these games were in progress was a matter of common knowledge.
 There were several probably a dozen. places in the very heart of the town where prostitution was openly practiced One of them conducted by notorious in the old red light district days. All these were for the city to clean up While the laws of the state being broken, it is the posed practice of municipalities to assist to the extent of keeping their skirts clean. Yet the county authorities though already overwhelmed with work, and with deputies, undertook the solicitation of citizens investigation of alleged gambling boot logging and prostitution in the city. Detectives brought and in instances where raids had been prepared the joints tipped off" and the offenders scattered.
 We do not know how definite the evidence that placed before the grand jury but 1t related to which a majority of the people believe be
 It must be a of regret that the grand jury was not specific; that it unable find indictments for the offenses which charges being committed and its failure do will make it appear that it's report is not entirely fair to the city government The city officials claim and may be SO that conditions have been greatly improved since summer so that may be that the report deals with conditions that existed at that time and with those Of the present
 We have high regard for the city manager and believe the chief of police be thoroughly honest and desirous of discharging duties fully but 1t Is certain that many people think there thing seriously wrong with the town The grand jury report if nothing more is reflection of popular be- lief
 This belief will remain so long as the appearance of evil exists. So long men whose only means of liv- ing is gambling and procuring, permitted to loter about the town, to hang out pool halls and other places of doubtful reputation and long as women who are known only prostitutes permitted finger in Phoenix. long will the people be- lieve that these plying their trades It is up to tle city government to clean up the town. Only by doing that can it purge it2elf to the satisfaction of the people the city contend city laws are defective it is their duty to supersede them with effective laws. It is defense to say that have ordinances that enable to deal with gambling prostitution boot logging or other offense against public decency