Norwich bulletin., 1917-11-17
REFORM MOVEMENTS IN NEW LONDON Plenty of Opportunity But Most of the Efforts Start and End
 in Talk Trying Prevent Promotion of Lieutenant
 Jefers-Efort Secure Public Hearing Before Council Committee.

would such a hearing be fair to the accused? It is new idea to ask for public hearings of the committees of the court of common council on mat ters of this kind from any little group of citizens.
 There is no public demand for any such hearing: 1t would establish a dangerous precedent for the actions of committees of the council to be subjected to the direction of any small set of men, even if they are backed by a few who are apparently on the out side, but in reality are in the inside looking out for notorfety or direct wrong with the police department, none knows it better than the police committee and the city's chosen rep resentatives are competent to apply the remedy without outside dictation, that is far removed from cooperation for the public good. The policeman never donned the blue and the brass who is not the subject of criticism somebody. It is a part of the life of the guardian of the peace. ~.
 But accusations and talk of public hearings of investigation of police officers aside, now on the level was there ever better police service in New London than at the present time? It is rare day, indeed, when
 
 with the general cleanup of the city. and at this rate, it will not be very long before New London is as free from a certain type of vice as any city of it's importance in the United States. Clean enough to satisfy any reasonable group of reformers. It is therefore made plain that the local police are not lacking in proficiency in their chosen line. If offences are overlooked. here Is the opportunity of the real reformer to get in his fine. work. Let him investigate and re- port his findings, and it's 8 license against no-lfcense vote that the case or cases, will receive careful and con- scientious police investigation. Re form can never be attained if re- formers are content with words, rath- CT than deeds, and take stock in hearsay without investigation. No great good can be accomplished with that form of reform work. Nothing of public import is attained by talk and talk alone.
 There have been reforms and ru- mors of reforms in New London ever since the day of "Spud" Steward, and long before, but they have never been of any great magnitude or lasting in people there will be reformers. It was ever thus, and ever thus twill be-. On last election day a real reform move ment was rejected by large major
 
 mediateiy thereafter the reform lead CTS proclaimed that there would be protestation against certain appli-' cants for liquor licenses but there was have already been granted. and with out opposition. to some of the most saloons in the city, where a drunk with dime in his pocket was without the price of drink after taking a cat nap. It was case of words, not deeds. Sometime previous to election day abiding liquor dealers agreed with self-appointed purity committee: to do their full part in putting an end to the illegal sale of liquor in the city The mo- license leaders held a session to con tinue that line of reform work but the aforesaid legal liquor dealers were not invited to attend the session. It looks as if that line of work of the reformers has been abandoned. It seems to have ended in. talk, and the energy applied to an alleged reforma lion of the police department. The liquor men stand ready to cooperate with the reformers. so it is said. It is believed that the earnest support offered was not wanted by the re- formers as they did not want any such support. especially from men who did not favor no-license. In the meantime, there is open violation of the liquor laws in New London, just as, there has been ever since the laws were enacted 80 there Is chance leIL for actual cooperation between the the policemen and the re- form men. The work of this triple would surely make New London clean enough in that line. to satisfy any real reformer. Although delayed, it is not stoo late for them to get together and put out of busi- ness the kitchen barrooms, the boot eggers and all others who dispense drinks in violation of law. | But the whole business will probably end just as it was begun, in talk and caa>litions will remain in New London just about as they are in many other cities. Sure there is room for reform work in New London, in common with every other city in the whole world, not even excepting the Rose of New England, for cities, like all men in- cluding reformers, are not perfect.
 A Paris telegram states that the trials have been made of