The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-11-20
Home Forum
Why ail this Beating around the
Bush? WHY Not State the Facts?

much of which mas developed rlEnt
here among us and in which many of
the present law violators have grown
up and under which local environment
these law viulators received their rain
ing in vice as stated by 4 daily papcr
published here, there must be a cause
and this cause must he local, and
further, this cause must nave existed
for quite a while if many of the vio-
lators were raised here to be grown
men and women. Since reading the
article in the paper this morning |
have puzzled my brain trying to think
out how the writer could so plainly
see the facts as he has stated them.
and failed to see their producing cause.
10, get rid of effects we must frs, re-
move the cause or causes,
1t is with the causes it appears
10 me that We are now concerned.
What are the causes? First | van to
state that | moved into he old In.
dian Territory in 1889 and settled not
very far from Ardmore where |
lived until December 1903 when |
moved To Ardmore. Since hat time
| have lived here taking part in its
local, business. social, political and
religious life.
In stating what | think to be the
producing causes | shall do 50 with
out any feeling of personal malice
toward any individual person or
persons.
First / will state all the trouble
! in t..s fnIn.n,ant gtoptaI and ot,axy mn
to its present development by a fail
ure 10 enforce the prohibition law,
for the reason that gambling and fe-
male prostitution both depend upon
intoxicants for their main spring of
life. Separated from intoxicants beth
of these things are comparatively east
ly handled. The open violation of the
liquor law was so plain to every
one and the fact that this class and
their co-associates, the gamblers ana
prostitution vendors always supported
the local officers for reelection led
the general public 10 suspicion that
the local officers stood in" with
this class.
Out here in east Ardmore there
were two places where intoxicants
were sold. These living close enough
to see what occurred would see those
people get into cars that had hastily
driven up and go in various directions.
Pretty soon the police patrol would
come in sight, but the birds had
flown. A search was made hat almost
always resulted in a complete water
haul for the police. BY the timt
the police got back TO the station, or
not long afterward the flown birds
were all back in the net with business
running as usual. This went on every
few weeks for over a year, until II
became u standing joke. That like
occurrences We're so common and 80
Well known that | feel sure that no
reputable person would care 10 make
any sort of denial.
This open and fragrant violation Of
this law and the almost universal be-
lief that the local officials. If not
n direct party 10 and meneficiary
from ii. at least winked at 1t and
willingly let it go on, has bred here
in Ardmore and especially among the
young, a spirit OF anarchy and dis
regard fer the law.
Now comes the most eriou part.
the fear Of the people TO report one OF
this law violating gang when they
see them In the act. ! have this fear
all my neighbors have il TO a greater
or less degree. That if one in this
gang kills you, You are paid for,I is
well nigh universally believed, is so
true as TO admit no denial. Are we just
timorously nervous or foolishly scared?
This beating up Of Mrs. Casey for CIV
ing evidence against that class OF
law violato:s Is not the first &C its
kind by several extending back over
a number years.
Since ! have been living in Ardmore
there was a session Of court held
during which several We're tried for
murder and other serious crimes, prac'
tically all OF whom were acquitted by
the sury.
The Ardmorelte in an editorial pre-
not doing its duty. | happened TO
know the personnel Of that entire
jury panel almost to a man and |
took 1t upon myself to ask several
of them who were my personal
friends as TO why they did not con-
Wet. Their in substance
were about this that they were un'
der oath to render verdict according
to the law and the evidence and that
from the vedence produced and the in-
structions OF the court they could
do nothing but turn them loose. and
said much more han | cur afford
TO put in print.
That there is a wide and an all
nigh universal b,,icf among the
people all over Ardmore and Carter
County that To report a b%ootlegger
or Il gambler or n prostitution vender
is almost equal to focling with a buzz
saw and jus about as dangerous.
lust how much grounds that there
is for these fcorS and beliefs nay
be a deba,able question hut that they
are rot all founded On fog and hys-
terra Is u sure thing.
In making this Investigation there
should he no pers nlJitieS nor pol
tiles. and IL there Is one made,
those making 1t should have the in
tcrcst of the entire people at heart
The protection OF our boys aud girls
and the %womanhood Of our town and
county far trandsccnds that OF any
official or set Of officials either city
or county or even OF the state.
;. J.. WoRLEY.