Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1916-02-11
A HORRIBLE CONDITION

iutctCSIS ildNC lidQ dUSOlupC sway
in the counties of kenton and
Campbell. The liquor people and
their friends have controlled the
elections and elevated TO Office
with very few exceptions-only
such men as were under obliga-
ton to them and upon whom they
could safely depend to be protect
ed in their open and defiant dis.
regard of the law in the conduct
of their business. The offices that
have to do with the enforcement
of the law are and have in almost
every instance been filled by men
owned and controlled by the llq-
uor interests and TO whom the
oath of Office means nothing when
ever and wherever it conflicts with
the vicious business of their mas
ter.
In judicial proceeding before
the Judge of the Criminal Divis
ion OF the KentOn Circuit Court,
a few weeks ago, instituted by
the Attorney General of the State
for the purpose of closing the sa-
looms of Kenton County on Sum
day, a most shocking condition
was shown to exist. The County
Judge, Sheriff and Deputy Sher'
ifs, Justice of the Peace, Police
Judge and Policemen all went up
on the witness stand and without
even a blush, in a most shame
less and disgusting manner, testi.
fed under oath that the saloons
of the county were and had been,
as long as they could remember,
running wide open on Sunday;
that drunken men and women
from Cincinnati, Ohio, and else
where thronged the streets and
public places, engaged in the
most boistrous and uuseemly con
duct, converting the city of Cow
lngton and county of Kenton into
a verltable cess pool. without the
slightest interference or molesta
ton from any source. These Of
ficers publicly admitted that they
cared nothing about their official
oaths and were recreant in the
discharge of their official duties
and We're time and again applaud
ed by the friends of the liquor
traffic for thus stultifying them
selves.
When good citizeu or public
official dares lift his voice to pro-
test against these things, he is
forthwith branded an enemy of
the community and they make it
their business to see that he is de-
feated in the event be is candi.
date for a political Office.
Thank God that outraged de-
cency, broken laws and violated
oaths in these two counties have
raised a hue and cry that has been
caught up in almost every section
OF the State and will not down un-
til the bhghting and destructive
influence of the liquor interests in
public life is destroyed, their
henchmen driven from Office and
plunged into disgraceful and
perpetual oblivion. There are
many good people in these two
counties who sincerely deplore
this condition. They are not in
any way responsible for is exist
ence and are bending every ener
gy Of body and mind in and hon
est and fearless endeavor to stamp
it out and purify the political and
moral atmosphere in which they
and their families live. They are
fighting against odds. The enemy
Is numerically much stronger and
thoroughly entrenched. This
fact, however, does not dismay
these noble citizens and the battle
will be waged in love, but with a
relentless determination, until this
citadel of vice and corruption is
taken and condition of right and
deceucy established that will
make these two counties a fit
abode for God-loving and God
fearing men, women and children
1t is to be hoped that those who
are interested ir the welfare of
the State and residing elsewhere
will not remain quiescent while
this struggle is going on in these