El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-07-01
MAY BE NECESSARY SOON TO
REVIVE. THE CITIZENS LEAGUE

from time to time in the past since public gambling
suppressed 1904, it has been necessary for citizens
Of this city Who have regard for the law and who prefer
an orderly community to reassemhe and revive the oo
Citizens league for active work It begins to look as
such reassemhy and revival might be necessary mere IN
Cd timers VIII recall how the saloon men and the
gamblers used to things all their own way 1nelI
hangers On and subpaIastes ncuded lot OF me naou
politicians and office holders well as the public pros
futes and their male attendants
If too long fight to clean things up. Year after year
the campaign Of education went and business men were
gradually brought to that the city would thrive pette
If the public gambling suppressed and the saloons
regulated At last it became possible to organize tne O
zens league with 500 active members and zoo more WIG
helped with financial support Following big mass meet
ing public gambling closed and it has never since been
mat victory was followed by the exodus Of consider
able proportion of the male and female prostitutes and
professional crooks. Gradually the saloon business vas
bro-eht under control Some improvement made IN
political conditions the public conscience was aroused
business improved along with social and moral and political
conditions and 81 Paso took new start and moved Ipuy
along the paths Of sound progress
Fvsrv once in while an effort would be made BY some
reckless elements, crminaly disposed 10 maze II Fas1
oide OPEN Each time the challenge was 1net
and the criminals were defeated in their purpose -Four OF 1ve
times the Citizens league has had to take matters IN hano
large funds have been raised, vigorous legal steps nave oen
~ valuable detective work has been DONE grand lur1es
have taken hand courts and uTtes have done theI WORK.
and never has the de OPEN crowd succeeded foT long II
dominating the town.
TsfeIv there has been tendency to let down the bars
sgsn The proximity Of Jua1ez with its open gambling It's
saloons, houses OF has
PaSo, ts more difficult but laty of E Paso county and
city officers cannot be excused that account Certainly
the great majority Of FL PasO and women do not want
this city turned to gamblers, booteggers and pro
pretors Of loose joints But constant wachuness IS tne
best protection -
So long as city and county officials charged with law
enforcement can be trusted TO do their fu duty,
nd honesv citizens viii feel against increase
of the criminal element. So long politics conducted
with reasonable regard for law and decency and ran pay
Americans cbeerfuy take It comes, and defeat may
be suffered without bitterness
But If office holders and politicians pledge themselves
to an element that makes for crime and disorder COZ
s5ertious of honor and fair play are lost sight or II men
ertsd TO enforce the laws into law breakers and par
tste IN the gains Of criminal practice; then the CITY Is
IN danger and steps must be taken IN self defence
1t makes q lot more difference to Fl Paso who are
elected TO county offices this year, than Who IS elected
president of the United States The Democraue county
primary this month is OF moment to FL Pasoans than
The convention at San Francisco.
II is of paramount importance that the principal county
Offices be placed IN the hands Of who VIII not only
enforce the laws but who viii observe the laws them
selves and who VIII merit the confidence Of the public
Party leaders did not have to make the issue this year