Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-17
SAYS MAYOR SHOULD
RESIGN OR ENFORCE LAW
Rev. Fred r.. Chenault Saws Clean
Up Cannot Come From Mill
tary Action.
CITIZENS MUST PROTECT CITY
Says Former Policeman Sweet
Showed Him List of Eleven Gam
bling Joints, One of Them Near
Broad Street Methodist Church.

Cleaning up Richmond from boot
| Logging. vice and gambling is not Il
matter for tho military authorities to
undertake the Home Defense
League, but the sworn duty of Mayor
Ainslic. with the assistance of tho Po-
lice Department. and when they fail in
this duty and state they cannot en-
force the laws of Richmond, then tho
Mayor should do the honorable thing
and resign and new officials bc elected
who can enforce them" Such was the
opinion of Rev. Fred Il. chcnault in
vigorous sermon last night in Broad
Street Methodist Church. Ills subject
was. Make Richmond Clean and Keep
1t Clean"
Statements FROM Judge Waddll and
Prohibition Commissioner Peters were
cited as to the condition in the city
Judge Waddll was quoted as having
said from the bench that when mill
tary authorities had TO go over the
heads Of the civil authorities ii was
time for the city to wake up. Com
missioner Peters was quoted as saying
that whisky was continually pouring
into the city in several ways. one OF
these ways was by automobile. usually
with pilot car to give tho warning
signal in event OF an officers opproach.
and tho other by railroad. both being
difficult to stop
SAYS PASSENGERS SHOULD
NOT OBJECT TO SEARCH
That passengers on incoming trains
should not object to having their bag
gage searched for whisky tho
view Of the pastor for i; was only by
cooperation that liquor can be pre-
vented from reaching Richmond. No
harm was done if no whisky was found.
he said, and for the good of the city
to wipe out the liquor traffic this atti-
tudc should be taken. He declared
nothing could he more absurd than
small body OF four men detailed TO see
that liquor was kept out of the city.
While some may have the vain hope
of the return to Richmond of the open
saloon. liquor had gone TO stay. and
those entertaining such hopes were
disiiluSioncd, he said AS for gambling,
he said that Policeman Sweet had
shown him list Of eleven gambling
joints in the city. with their addresses,
and one was only a stones throw from
Broad Street Methodist Church.
Attacking Mayor Ainslic for laxity In
law enforcement, he criticized him
severely when he said that the indis-
crction shown by tho Mayor appeared
more TO justify his removal from office
than the recent removal of Major
Sowcll as head Of the Police Depart
mcnt. The Mayor allowed Policeman
Waller to leave the city when IL was
SHOWN that the policeman had engaged
in transporting whisky from E!ba Sta
,ion TO the Price farm.
FAILED TO CLEAN JP OR
CLEAN OUT ADMiNICTRATIQN
why does the vice condition exist"
he asked. 81 believe 1t is because we
failed TO heed the warning of the vice
commiss ion several years ago to clean
up or clean out the administration. We
have left the enforcement OF vice reEu
lations to certain officials, but have be-
come indifferent and the situation is
now worse than it has even been.
reform must and will be made, but it
must not be spasmodic.
"liow can reform be effected? Some
have suggested = mass-meetinE of
citizens. but such a course in my opin-
ion would result in practically no bet
termcnt Of conditions. ] think a vigil
ancc committee composed OF strong.
courageous citizens. should be APP
pointed 10 maintain a watch over tho
officials TO see that they perform their
duty. This committee should have n
secretary who should be moving
spirit in the organization and fearless
of threats. The organization should
say 10 the Mayor, If you will not en-
force the laws VIC will sec that il is
done
Listen TO what General Farnsworth
says: Unless Richmond improves con-
ditionS decidedly in intcmperancc and
vice she will disqualify for service in
the army more men than she has al
ready given to both the army and the
navy. he concluded"